VAL D’ISÈRE, France — It looks as though Lindsey Vonn won’t receive a thumbs up today to go for her third gold medal at the world championships. The U.S. team said Wednesday that Vonn, a product of Ski Club Vail who already has won super-G and downhill titles here, is out of today’s giant slalom because of tendon surgery Tuesday to her right thumb. She also has been downgraded to possible starter for Saturday’s slalom.
“We’ll see how things go the next few days,” Vonn said. “But I’m hoping to race slalom.”
Vonn suffered the injury, which required four stitches, after Monday’s victory in the downhill when she couldn’t open a champagne bottle after the cork broke. Someone used a ski to extract the remaining piece of cork, breaking the bottle in the process. Vonn unknowingly grabbed the damaged bottle as the champagne flowed.
Miller may retire before Olympics.
Bode Miller said he’s leaning toward retiring at the end of this season, but hasn’t completely ruled out the 2010 Vancouver Games.
“I think it would be a stretch to say there’s something in my heart that’s driving me to go to the Olympics again,” Miller said.
The Associated Press
