Lindsey Vonn gets the big thumbs-up as 2010 U.S. Olympic star

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

I caught up to Lindsey Vonn via telephone Tuesday, a couple of days before she leaves her home in Park City, Utah, and gets sucked into the media whirlpool, with live appearances on the national morning shows Thursday and Friday and a raft of other appearances in New York.

Why is she so hot? Vonn has just completed the greatest season ever by a U.S. skier –- and it finished last week, less than a year before the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.

And there is no reason to limit that accolade to domestic terms. I did a little research and found Vonn had the greatest season by a woman skier since competition in Super-G was added in 1986 to the World Cup circuit, joining downhill, slalom and giant slalom.

‘Everyone has been telling me different records I’ve broken,’ Vonn told me. ‘It’s really weird to think about. It doesn’t seem like it’s me doing those things.’

Vonn’s 2008-09 numbers: Two world championship golds, in downhill and Super-G. Nine World Cup wins (giving her 22 career wins, topping Tamara McKinney’s previous U.S. record of 18). Sixteen top three-finishes. The big crystal globe for a second straight World Cup overall title. Season discipline titles (and smaller globes) in downhill and Super-G, plus a second in super combined, third in slalom and eighth in giant slalom.

Not even severing a thumb ligament on the jagged edge of a champagne bottle while celebrating her second win at worlds slowed her down. Surgery, duct tape, and a personal valet (husband Thomas), and the 24-year-old Minnesotan was good to go. She won four times and had two seconds in the 11 races after the injury.

Here is what she had to say about that –- and a baker’s dozen more questions for a woman who had her cake and ate it, too.

So you cut the thumb just to give everyone else a chance?
Yeah, I just decided to spice things up.

How is it doing now?
Better. I still have to wear the brace for a few more weeks and do therapy. I was lucky I didn’t sever it again. It was really tough pushing out of the starting gate, especially slalom, where it was really painful for me. And having to duct tape my hand to the pole was frustrating.

Can you finally put on your clothes without help?
I’ve got a technique now. But my husband still is the helper. He put the duct tape on the pole, put my (racing) suit on for me and if I need help with my hair, he does it too.

Is he cheaper than a stylist?
For sure.

As it stands now, you are going to be the face and marquee name of the U.S. Olympic team next winter. Are you prepared for it? Surprised by it?
A little of both. I’m excited about it. This is a good opportunity for me to show America who I am and what I represent and try to be a good role model. It has given me a lot of pressure and a lot of expectations, but I feel like the last couple years, after winning the first overall title, I’ve gotten used to it and gotten a lot better at it.

Any differences in your preparation for the Olympic year?
I’m going to work even harder. In past years, I’ve gone to Austria to work with the Red Bull guys (her sponsor’s physical training staff) for three weeks, and this summer I’m going for six weeks.

Any time off?
I’m planning a vacation with my husband and my sister and my husband’s brother and their significant others. Maria Riesch (Vonn’s good friend, the German skier who was second in the overall) also is coming with us. We’re probably going to Cozumel.

Skiers always say the World Cup season is a truer test of excellence than one-race events like the Olympics or worlds, but are the Olympics your clear priority next year?
This year, I was thinking only about the (World Cup) overall and ended up winning two medals at the world championships. My goal is still going to be to try to defend the overall title, but if I need to skip a race to be fresh for those Olympics, I will do that. The Olympics is more important.

Why?
It’s not necessarily as good for me that people don’t pay as much attention (to the World Cup) as they do to the Olympics, but I realize this is how it is, and I have to perform on that particular day. It’s tough to be in the starting gate and know this is your one opportunity to show America what you’re made of. Hopefully, this Olympics will be my time. If not, there is always Sochi (the next Olympics). But I feel really good about these Olympics. I feel things have been lining up and getting progressively better every year.

Best memory of this season?
Winning the Super-G title in the last race of the season. I screamed for joy.

Worst memory, other than cutting your thumb?
The world championship combined -- or the world championship slalom. [Vonn led the combined and was second in slalom after one leg of each, but she was disqualified for missing a gate after apparently finishing second in the combined and then crashed in the second run of the slalom.] Thinking I got second and being real happy with that result and then, 10 minutes later, being told I didn’t was shocking and disappointing.

One thing you have learned about yourself this season?
I can succeed under pressure. In the downhill at world championships, I was so nervous I didn’t even know if I was going to be able to make it down the mountain. I wanted it so badly, and there were so many emotions running through me, I felt it was almost impossible to control it. With Thomas’s help, I conquered those nerves. Now I know I can do it, and I can carry that with me for the rest of my career.

Anything you would do differently?
Not open a champagne bottle again. Ever.

Will you still drink the stuff?
Only if someone else pours it for me.

-- Philip Hersh

Lindsey Vonn with the spoils of her last two seasons .