American skiing legend Lindsey Vonn passed a crucial test of her damaged left knee on Friday, successfully completing her first downhill training run in Cortina d'Ampezzo. This achievement keeps her hopes alive for securing a remarkable fourth Olympic medal at the upcoming Winter Games.
Vonn's Gritty Performance Amid Injury
Skiing with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, Vonn clocked an impressive time of 1 minute 40.33 seconds during her initial official run. When questioned by reporters about her condition with a simple "all good," she responded with a confident "yeah," showcasing her determination and resilience.
Training Delays and Team Camaraderie
The training session faced a delay of over an hour due to dense fog lingering over the Olimpia delle Tofane piste. To pass the time, Vonn entertained her teammates by singing along to tracks by Usher, adding a light-hearted moment to the tense pre-competition atmosphere.
Meanwhile, the Swiss team, including reigning downhill Olympic champion Corinne Suter, engaged in a game of Yahtzee. Italian skier Federica Brignone was the first to navigate the entire piste, posting a time of 1:40.66 as she pursues her first Olympic gold after recovering from a double leg break just in time to compete.
Brignone's Recovery Journey
Reflecting on her performance, Brignone noted, "Some things were good, some things so-so." She emphasised her ongoing recovery efforts, stating, "I'm trying to recover my leg because after skiing it's always swollen and painful. I'm also working on my confidence because I'm still missing it."
Mixed Doubles Curling Highlights
In other Olympic news, Jennifer Dodds and her partner Bruce Mouat delivered standout performances in Friday's round-robin matches of the mixed doubles curling competition. The duo secured two victories, defeating Sweden 7-4 and South Korea 8-2, with an end to spare in both games.
Strategic Improvements and Celebrity Encounters
Dodds explained, "We said yesterday there were a couple of things we wanted to work on. We came out today and executed exactly what we wanted to do." The Team GB pair's success was complemented by a buoyant moment when American rapper Snoop Dogg requested a photo with them.
Dodds recounted the encounter, saying, "We walked past and we were just kind of like 'there's Snoop Dogg,' a bit starstruck and we got ushered back. They said 'he wants a selfie with you' and we said 'OK'. So, if Snoop Dogg's team is reading this, can we please get the photo?"
Snoop Dogg, serving as an honorary coach for Team USA and wearing a jacket featuring photos of American curlers Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin, even took to the ice himself to try sweeping a stone, adding a unique twist to the curling events.
