Ski Club Vail product Lindsey Vonn thought she’d tied Tamara McKinney for the most career medals won by an American woman at the world alpine championships.
But Vonn’s apparent silver medal in today’s super-combined race at the world championships in Val d’Isere, France, later was nullified by a disqualification after race officials determined she’d inadvertently missed a gate in her slalom run.
Vonn won a gold medal Tuesday in the super-G, the first event of the championships, giving her three career world championships medals. McKinney won four in the 1980s.
A super-combined involves one run of downhill and one run of slalom, with the total time of the two runs determining the winner. Vonn had the fastest time in the downhill that preceded the slalom.
“Pretty frustrating day today,” Vonn said. “I had a good downhill run and felt like I was in good position to do well today. It was tough with the conditions in the slalom. I actually thought I made all the gates. I kept fighting and I got to the finish and I thought I was second. Then I wasn’t second.”
Vonn still has several medal chances at the championships, which conclude Feb. 15, especially in downhill — her best event — and slalom.
“It was a pretty disappointing day, all in all, but I definitely still have more events that I can do well in,” Vonn said. “I’m just going to try and get past today and look forward to the future.”
Vonn’s next chance comes Sunday in downhill. She is the defending World Cup downhill champion and leads the World Cup downhill standings this season. She won a silver medal in downhill at the previous world championships in 2007.
“To have thought you got a medal and then it’s taken away is pretty hard to take,” Vonn said. “The downhill now is definitely my big motivation. I’m going to work hard and do everything I can to be on the podium in that race.”
John Meyer: 303-954-1616 or jmeyer@denverpost.com
