Kopano Lachoski blog

Vonn to make late decision on Super G

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany (Reuters) – Holder Lindsey Vonn, still suffering from mild concussion after a crash last week, said she would make a last-minute decision on whether to race in Tuesday's world championships Super G.

The American, who has an unfortunate habit of picking up injuries before big events and was also a doubt ahead of her two medal-winning displays at the 2010 Winter Olympics, told Reuters this was the "scariest" she had felt ahead of competition.

"I'll make a decision as close to the start time as possible," said Vonn on the eve of the opening event at the world championships.

"This isn't like my other injuries," added the dominant force in women's skiing. "It's not about pain, I can't just fight through it.

"I don't have focus and concentration and that to me makes it the scariest and hardest injury I've ever had to deal with," added Vonn.

She also criticized the Super G course as too icy and described as "ridiculous" a suggestion that her pre-event injuries were a strategy.

Vonn, winner of the overall World Cup for the last three years, crashed in training last week.

She missed Friday's slalom at Zwiesel before struggling through a giant slalom on the same German course on Sunday, finishing a modest 18th.

"I had some major problems," said Vonn. "I felt pretty good until about halfway down the course, from there to the finish I just lost concentration completely.

BIG EVENTS

"I couldn't focus any more and on both runs I lost almost one second in the last 15 seconds. That's purely because of my head injury.

"Today I felt better but I'm not perfect. I'm hoping things get better for tomorrow," added Vonn.

"I don't just crash before big events, I crash all the time. It's unfortunate but it happens in ski-racing."

Vonn was a doubt for the Vancouver Olympics until the last moment because of a foot injury but went on to win gold in the downhill and bronze in the Super G.

She is also world champion in the downhill and is due to defend that title on Sunday.

"It's going to be difficult for me. If I couldn't race tomorrow it would be awful, the worst possible scenario," said Vonn.

"I want to try and defend my titles. I'm a racer, I want to race. This injury is really hard for me. There's nothing I can do but wait and just rest."

In a later news conference, she said her decision on whether or not to compete could by influenced by the course.

"It's too dangerous for the women," she said. "It's way too icy. I'm basically shocked by it, it's unbelievable."

Asked if her injuries were a strategy to lift pressure, she replied: "That's totally ridiculous. I never want to get hurt for any reason at any time.

"There are just times when you end up in the nets."

(Writing by Brian Homewood, editing by Tony Jimenez)