Olympics 2018: Lindsey Vonn finishes tied for 6th in super-G

A wide turn near the end of her run cost American Lindsey Vonn in the women’s super-G final on Friday night (Saturday morning in Pyeongchang) at the 2018 Winter Olympics. Vonn finished off the podium with a time of 1:21.49 in her first event, tied for sixth place.

Ester Ledecka of the Czech Republic, a former snowboarder, won a surprise gold with a time of 1:21.11.

Anna Veith of Austria took the silver. Tina Weirather of Liechtenstein won bronze, joining her mother Hanni Wetzel, the Olympic super-G champion in 1980 at Lake Placid, part of a decorated alpine skiing family.

Vonn raced first out of the gate, and with just seconds to go in her run turned wide, perhaps costing herself precious tenths of a second, and by the seventh skier down the hill was already assured of not winning a medal.

“Number one is always really difficult, especially in super-G,” Vonn told NBC’s Heather Cox after the race. “I think it was a pretty big disadvantage.

“I may not have a medal today but I’m still proud of my performance.”

Vonn missed the 2014 Games in Sochi with a torn ACL, but worked her way back to the top of her sport. After a wait of eight years in between Olympic performances, Vonn had to wait another hour with Friday’s final pushed back after strong winds.

“I’ve been waiting a very long time for these Olympics,” Vonn said earlier in the week.

Vonn will next compete on Tuesday in the downhill, the race in which she won gold in Vancouver in 2010. She also took the bronze in the super-G in Vancouver.