The Whole Delivery

Photo from Reuters' Leonhard Foeger A second consecutive medal wasn't to be for Lindsay Vonn, as a crash in the latter stages of the super-combined prevented her from reaching the podium. But even an accident free run wouldn't have stopped her close friend and rival Maria Riesch from winning the gold medal in this event today. The German claimed the top spot with a fabulous run : Riesch had a total time of 2 minutes, 09.14 seconds to beat Julia Mancuso of the United States by 0.94 seconds. Mancuso got her second silver medal after being runner-up to Vonn in the downhill. Anja Paerson of Sweden took the bronze, 1.05 behind Riesch. The event's winner sure did face her moments of adversity Riesch, who trailed Vonn by 0.33 after the downhill run Thursday, punched the air and pressed her hands to her goggles in delight when she saw her time. She came into the games as the biggest threat to Vonn's predicted domination of the women's Alpine events but was a disapp...

Photo from Getty Images No injury was going to stop her this time. The wait for her is over : Lindsey Vonn lived up to expectations and won the Olympic downhill Wednesday, and childhood rival and American teammate Julia Mancuso took a surprise silver medal. In a race characterized by several crashes -- including one to Swedish standout Anja Pärson -- Vonn's bruised right shin proved not to be a hindrance as she sped down Franz's Downhill course in 1 minute, 44.19 seconds. Mancuso finished 0.56 seconds behind, and Elisabeth Goergl of Austria took the bronze medal, 1.46 seconds back. Maria Riesch of Germany, Vonn's main rival and best friend, finished eighth. It's the third time two Americans have finished 1-2 in an Olympic Alpine race, and the first time in 26 years. Parson's crash from reports appears to have been a spectacularly dreadful one, as it concerned the new Olympic champion A few moments later, Vonn's smile turned to a frown, as she watch...