WHISTLER, B.C. – America has a tendency to latch onto sexy athletes and this Winter Olympic Games offers both genders an opportunity to follow their favorite competitors. After her recent Sports Illustrated bikini photo shoot, female skier Lindsey Vonn joined those ranks along with American speedskater Apolo Ohno.
Lindsey Vonn
After a few great test runs in the downhill on Monday, America’s favorite Lindsey Vonn has said she plans on competing in all five Alpine events.
Skiing through intense pain, Vonn managed to turn in the fastest time in the upper section during the downhill training. Prepping for the course, she took painkillers and numbed the area before popping on her skis but still felt the effects of the jarring course.
“The course here is just so bumpy,” said Vonn. “It’s one thing when you inspect it and you’re like, ‘OK, this is going to be a little rattley.’ But it was jarring. It was a fight just to make it down the whole way.”
Vonn, who’s photo graced the controversial cover of Sports Illustrated recently, is the two-time defending World Cup overall champion.
The sexy blonde has since grown to become one of America’s sexiest female athletes and just as her popularity was skyrocketing through the roof, she bruised her right shin during a pre-Olympic practice in Austria on Feb. 2.
Vonn got a little help from Mother Nature when the women’s downhill training run was postponed and had to be rescheduled three times due to adverse weather conditions. Those delays were due to fog, snow and rain and while they offered extra time for Vonn to heal, they also battered the course.
After staying off the slopes for several days she finally tested her injury and as expected there’s a decent amount of pain. The biggest contributor to her pain appears to be the giant jump at the bottom of the run.
“That really hurt,” Vonn said. “It’s throbbing really bad. I just have to be able to grit my teeth and fight through it on Wednesday and hopefully I can still come out on top.”
For the record, Vonn is married to husband Thomas Vonn, who is the skier’s coach and advisor. Thomas commented on his wife’s ability to compete during these Winter Games. “I don’t see any reason why she’d pull out of any of them,” said Thomas. “She knows she’s going to be ready but she expected it to hurt less today than it did. That’s kind of where it’s at on that front.”
Apolo Ohno
Competing in his third Winter Olympics, Ohno tied speedskating great Bonnie Blair for most medals won by a U.S. Winter Olympian when he glided to Silver in the 1,500meter to ice medal No. 6 on Saturday.
The young American who has made the ‘soul patch’ sexy intends on adding more was in the bag.
Many are considering Ohno’s medal as a gift since the Korean team was storming to the finish looking certain to sweep the podium with Gold, Silver and Bronze until two of them wiped out on the final turn, allowing Ohn to glide to the Silver Medal.
Regardless of that one race, this dude stands out from his competitors many times staying at the back of the pack before deciding to make a late move and fly past everyone like they are standing still.
“Pretty intense,” Ohno said. “This is what this sport is all about.”
After winning that silver, Ohno now has two medals of each color and squeaked past Eric Heiden as the most decorated American male at the Winter Games.
Heiden is currently the team doctor for U.S. Speedskating and praised Ohno.
“The thing that really sets him apart is he’s been doing this for a number of years,” said Heiden. “We’ve learned to appreciate what dedication and hard work he’s had to put in. He’s a product of both those things.”
Ohno has three more opportunities in Vancouver to pass Blair in total medals when he competes in two individual races and the team relay.
“I’ve come prepared, more than I’ve ever prepared for anything in my life,” said Ohno. “I’m in a very, very good place. It feels like home soil to me. We just have so much support in the crowd.”
More Olympic News:
Locus Of Concern Shifts From Lindsey Vonn’s Butt To Her Shin – Deadspin.com
Video of Luger Kumartashivili’s Death: Show it or Not? – Sports Climax
NBC Olympics.com – NBC.com
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