Truth Is, Lindsey Vonn Is a Golden Olympic Tale

If there was one noticeable thing about the British Columbia, it was Lindsey Vonn aptly renaming the site of the competition Vonncouver.


We’ve been welcomed to witness the Golden Girl, relight romance at the Winter Games after battling adversity and hapless memories during the course of her Olympic career.

But now, she embraces the delight of becoming the greatest U.S. women skier of all-time.

From a bad back, bloody mouth to bruised shin, Vonn has nursed injuries throughout the world’s greatest games. After of all the negatives and misfortune, she rebounded at the 2010 Winter Games, posing a bigger threat in the downhill competition than her appealing photos in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.

Any sporting tale is bittersweet, but whenever it contains a female skier who is compared to Michael Phelps, everyone stops to listen. More than just sexuality or beauty features, Vonn is a gold medalist.

With the exception of weather delays, to her advantage, she was given a few days to heal a troubled shin that almost forced her to miss the games.

Though she was doubted and perceived as a drama queen, Vonn silenced critics who believed she was overhyped.

On Wednesday, she prevailed and won a gold medal for the States, appeasing our patriotic nation with an appealing victory in the Olympic women’s downhill.

After an exhilarating run downhill, she shared the overjoyed moment with relatives and friends, proud to erase all the horrific scares, bumps, and bruises in the Turin Games.

When she competed four years ago, her maiden name was Lindsey Kildow.

Back then she had a scary fall resulting in what appeared to be a serious injury. She had to be airlifted out of the snow.

Amazingly, she suffered no serious setbacks.

Two days later, she was back skiing and finished eighth in the Olympic downhill.

So it should really be no surprise that she overcame a shaky shin injury to win a Gold two nights ago. Her ability to withstand pain and overcome such hurdles should be far more impressive than her Gold Medal. It is now a strong possibility that she could win two more medals in over the next few days.


She’s on pace to conquer an astounding ride, proving she might simply be the best, an unreal athlete prevailing in the world’s most prestigious games. She finished merely in 1 minute, 44.19 seconds, defeating teammate Julia Mancuso.

So does that mean she’s the Golden Girl?

Absolutely! Minus the upcoming events, she was the most-watched American star, the blossoming star everyone anticipates to take the most gold medals. Quite interestingly, she’s the Phelps of Winter.


In these games, the shin she injured while preparing in Austria last month, hasn’t affected her performance. She spent ample time getting therapy, and lucked out due to the postponement of awful weather.

Four training runs were cancelled, and the downhill run was pushed back to a later date, giving her plenty of time to heal and recover in time.

However, Vonn balanced herself and rose without any trouble to win huge for the U.S., captivating spectators in the games with her incredible influence all over our country. She is the figure admired around the world anchoring all American skiers, along with her positive attitude to inspire kids of the next generation.

Either way, she’s the Golden Girl.

Avoid Beer and Bartenders: However, It's Miller (and Redemption) Time

Frankly, this wasn’t a moment of immortality or elation, but a redemption story for an embattled U.S. skier Bode Miller. He arrives later, perhaps, than when he was supposed to breakthrough as the world's greatest skier, enduring much of the attention with his pure supremacy as advertised.

Instead, in what quickly became misery, Miller failed to secure a medal at the Turin Games, strung out on alcohol beverages.

Considering that he was fond of partying at nearly all the local bars in Turin, he never had a focal point of recovering to reach incremental aspiration in the crucial games.

It was, however, a huge disappointment refusing to take pride of the exalted honors as an Olympian.

It was, however, a disgrace becoming an official embarrassment to the talented U.S. ski team, with enough mastery to travel home elated of winning the ultimate prize.

To me, the ultimate prize isn’t silver or bronze, but gold, a noble prize all Olympians dream about.

It seems, finally, Miller has mellowed into a responsible and perceptive U.S. star. Reaching an understanding on what an appearance in the Winter Games is about, he isn’t enabling an infamous intoxication to affect his performance level, but implements insight of what it takes to be considered an elite athlete at the Winter Games.

Had he not realized the significance of avoiding bartenders and beer to disencumber disadvantages, Miller wouldn’t be facing good fortune, but probably would have self-destructed in mire seconds. Guess it’s fine to admit he’s back striving for redemption and answering to critics whom believed he was a bigger fool and partier mocked of frivolity.

Where he earned his biggest reward and exaltation, Miller is a different athlete with a much serious attitude. Suddenly, he’s more than an apathetic athlete out there to have a good time, while partying and suffering headaches the next morning caused severe hangovers. There was no resemblance of the famous failures that burned his reputation four years ago, erecting disastrous shame and was an insult to America pride.


The optimist once again believes in retaliation, excited of his positive repercussions when he ended a horrid drought finishing empty of a medal. So when he broke a personal streak that has hunted him the last four years, Miller took bronze in the Olympic downhill Monday, while Didier Defago of Switzerland won gold and stopped the bleeding of a two-decade drought.

That’s tremendous felicity for the Swiss, but the greater tale is Miller rebounding of all the lapses taunting a colorful career in downhill skiing.

From the overacting of spending long nights in the bars to additional preparation, he relinquished all weaknesses and devoted more ample time in reaching a quest. Sometimes it takes disappointing outings, returning to regular form, and skiing at a premium, in which a wake up call at Turin confirmed the values of competing in the world’s greatest games.

And that’s what it took for Miller to realize he was washing away a dream, as years are numbered.

As he continues aging, winning a gold medal (or any for that matter) is a priceless opportunity. The vibes of him competing at a high level, presumably, for the first time in an every-four-year event is uplifting and precious, after battling with adversity for foolish judgment while spending leisure time away from the snowy mountains.

But at Whistler Mountain, among the beautiful and refreshing sites of the British Columbia where the rain has fallen immensely, Miller was impressive and put a smile on faces.

Among those disgruntled supporters, he disappointed them, saddened them as most disbelieved and disapproved of his tawdry drinking habits. Four years ago, no one shook off obnoxious remarks when he said during an interview it’s not easy “to ski when you’re wasted.” That led to a sincere apology, after he spoke to United States Ski and Snowboard Association President and CEO Bill Marolt.

At that point, it provoked further controversy when team donors and corporate sponsors phoned the USSA with fuming calls regarding the everlasting chaos. Ridiculed for such an absurd explanation following his failures at Turin, he was blamed for the awful meltdown and lost all credibility.

As if the sarcastic comment wasn’t inane, he had mistaken it for a joke while most were filled with anger. Later on, the populace treated the insensitive responses with strong bitterness.

Of course, his derelict morals weren’t only a hassle to skiing in general, but the representation he brought when he arrived to Turin. Often, his outspokenness created trouble, or when calling drug rules too strict of “a joke”, a wicked attitude that never settled too well with citizens.

Under much tension to redeem himself of arrogance and rudeness, Miller skiing under the influence diminished long ago. All of which we live in a forgiven country, perhaps, unlike some countries in the world. In what might be the final quest of Miller’s skiing career, he could depart the Winter Games on top and erase all the nonsense.


Although much of Miller’s childish mind games are unimportant during the wonderful scenes of the Olympics, he represents America and might conquer hope for a country long awaiting greatness. The results are that he’s older and well-experienced, attentive of capturing gold, and unselfish of citizens eager to glance at pride.

How convenient when he used to be uncaring of winning and bringing joy to the states. That goes to show you, things change within four years.

It certainly has for Bode.

Let’s witness the similarities of the 2002 Winter Games at Salt Lake City, where he won two silver medals before turning allegedly into an alcoholic, succumbing an athletic sequence and had a zest relaxing in bars sipping on liquor to suffocate his performance level.

The news headlines centered around the disobedient Miller, a ruckus stealing front page news. Consider that he faltered to win a medal at the ’07 and ’09 World Championships, shambles that almost forced him to deliberate as to whether he’d retire or compete in what could be his final run in the Olympics.

And suddenly, he’s redeeming a shabby reputation, and perished all the criticism after having the best performance during his Olympian regime.

If he was under the influence, he isn’t now.

If Vonn Misses Out and Nurses Shin, Then No Olympic Panorama

Having seen her on the website, she poses as America’s Top Model instead of America’s star skier. Taking a glance at the Sports Illustrated ’s new swimsuit issue, Lindsey Vonn, the U.S. Olympic skier, isn’t skiing. She’s standing on the side of a mountain, wearing a white bikini and red snow boots.

Of course, our country is more interested in her photos. Wait, whatever happened to her, presumably, attaining Olympic gold medals in a quest at the winter games? She is the famous American icon in which most are anxious to watch her attempt bringing home medals.

But three days ago, Vonn spoke to swarming reporters as if she’s quitting before the Opening Ceremonies brighten the beautiful, clear, and crisped skies of British Columbia. The Winter Games are less than hours away, but after revealing uncertainty whether she is healthy even to ski in the games, it seems her priorities are wrong.

Could it be a felicitous dream, ending tragically for Vonn? If she’s delayed after suffering a deep shin bruise, a 20-year dream is ruined. That is, only if she’s not in good enough health to compete in all five of her events. The gorgeous sweetheart is glanced at as a marketing promoter, not a ski expertise attempting to accumulate gold medals or accolades at the Winter Games.

The precious girl is posing appealingly for the photographers and marketers of Sports Illustrated, losing focus of what’s at stake and any glorious deeds she may sustain. The sexy darling is, perhaps, appearing in photos in a white fur wrapped tight around her chest and trendy pants tight on her bottom. Anticipated across the U.S. to excel in the rainy confines on such a perennial platform as the world’s finest Alpine skier, in all likelihood she’s proficient of winning five gold medals.

As it stands though, fans are perturbed and push the panic button as curiosity of her health woes numb our consciousness, while we are still harping on the photos appearing in a recent magazine issue.


It’s obvious the injury could affect Vonn’s ability, when she informed the media of her incident during a training run last week in Austria. But she remained secretive, refusing to inform the world of a potential heartbreaker.

Here’s her excuse:

“I didn’t want to alarm anybody,” she said on Wednesday, a day supporters, the committee, and even her corporate sponsors stared and heard the shocking revelations.

That’s what no one wanted to hear, regarding a four-year event that isn’t as popular as in recent years. In the yesteryears, the Winter Games captivated our interest. But now, the Summer Games are praised for its competitive nature, but also for the more popular events displayed in which we truly have a zest embracing track and field, basketball, and swimming, thanks in large part to the great 14-time gold medalist Michael Phelps.

So, greatly, the Winter Games need Vonn.

Unlike most women in sports, her athleticism and relentlessness have earned her a U.S. women’s record 31 World Cup victories while dealing with nagging pain. From a sliced tongue to an ailing back, she has experienced the pain and nursed injuries over the years.

What we’re witnessing now is a hellish Winter Games in Vancouver, a beautiful winter site where no one is really sure if there’s enough snow in the forecast, but enough rain to turn the Winter Games into the Soggy Games. Gloomed with a possible letdown, much attention is given to the big names, particularly if an athlete is nagged by severe injuries.

Unfortunately, Vonn is victimized by bad results. Had she not became a premier image of Sports Illustrated photos, Vonn probably wouldn’t had sustained brutal damage. Please understand, most athletes who appear inside—or worse, on the front cover—of Sports Illustrated is vulnerable of becoming jinxed.

Reminder: It still doesn’t mean she’s cursed, folks. Seen as the photo attraction, while everyone waited to see her as a skiing attraction. She is a victim of freak accidents, something uncontrollable and usually occurs when least expected. She’s suddenly experiencing a crestfallen episode, suffering the worse situation at the worse possible time.

It’s bad timing, since she’s chasing Olympic gold. She is chasing five gold medals and wishing to stand on the most prestigious stage. She wanted to be characterized and remembered as one of the finest Olympic stars to prosper in the Alpine events. If she somehow recovers in time, and attains all five gold medals, she’ll be known as one of the greatest skiing stars in U.S. Olympic history, if not the Winter Games.

It’s hard to envision Vonn winning any, when she has been unable to walk as well as unable to practice on skis. Earlier in the week, she had trouble and felt severe pain when she tried putting on a boot at the hotel.

”It’s hard to stay positive, you know,” Vonn said on Wednesday staring at reporters. “A week ago, I was feeling great, I was feeling healthy, I had no problems. And now, I’m sitting here today questioning whether I’ll be even able to ski. So, it’s not where I want to be, by any means. It’s probably the worst place that you can have an injury, because you’re constantly pushing against your boot, and there’s no way around it.”


The state of women’s athletics in America is becoming the epicenter of fashion, failing to acknowledge the competitiveness within the sport. Sometimes, women athletes forget the sport and become heavily concerned with popularity, while endorsed by fashion corporations.

Sadly, Vonn is more noticed if cameras are flashing, but captured fame based on her athleticism in prior years. She endorses the fancy and expensive watch called Rolex. More so, she’s the never Cover Girl. Seems that way, after talking about flaunting her body for an annual magazine swimsuit issue and the website. At least she’s not all over MySpace, I hope.

Another sponsor is Red Bull, the energy drink producing millions in profit. Sadly, we haven’t realized she’s an athlete, a prolific skier expected to participate in her first event called the Super-Combined on Sunday, aiming to win her first gold medal. It’s America, where all the tension and disappointment has deflated the pleasing scene. They traveled from the states to witness an Olympic panorama at Whistler Mountain.

Considering no U.S. Alpine skier has won more than two gold medals, Vonn was capable of reaching improbable glory in a country where premium skiers are groomed efficiently. But now, winning five gold medals seems impossible, when endorsing 10 sponsors and posing for photos seems realistic, simply because it’s stands for good business.

She’s a famous woman athlete, even though she’ll never earn as much perception as men athletes. Nowadays, women are getting equal opportunities at sports, but are still behold from the sexuality viewpoint, not the sports viewpoint.


It’s a redemptive tale, if she’s able to compete. The Turin Olympics wasn’t her best performance. Most of you probably remember when she crashed during the training and rested in the hospital. Oh, I remember.

At this time, it’s worth forgetting. Didn’t she recover? Yes. However, she raced in the downhill event, finishing eighth. Now is a moment for her to vanquish and erase the miserable flashbacks of the heartbreaking struggles.

Bad luck has slapped her hard in the face. Recently, Vonn rebounded quickly after sustaining a bruised wrist and somehow pressed on, when she managed a three-race win streak. That’s not all. She had a bloody accident when her knee bounced directly into her chin, in which her mouth bled after the sudden freak accident.

But somehow, she won the race.

She could be a world-class skier. Vonn has been devoted since she was two, and skied while growing up in Minnesota and Colorado.

We know she takes pride in the sport, but the question is now, can she compete?