Lindsey Vonn is one determined skier.
On Wednesday, in her first interview since re-injuring the right knee in which she tore the ACL and MCL in a February crash at the world championships, she told the “Today Show” that she still had time to recover before the Sochi Olympics start Feb. 7, but she couldn’t say for sure if she’d be ready.
On Thursday – Thanksgiving Day – she tentatively ventured out on skis at Vail, which opened some chairlifts early for their girl.
Happy thanksgiving everyone! I went skiing today 🙂 just wrote about it on FB http://t.co/cpavFKpJvL #IWILL #sochi2014 #Thankful
— lindsey vonn (@lindseyvonn) November 28, 2013
Then on Friday, she got back on the hill in Vail and picked up the intensity. She told the Associated Press that she enjoyed three training runs, at first taking it easy, then picking up the speed. Of her third trip down, Vonn said, “The last run was better. It was more like normal. I’m skiing in my clothes and seeing how things go so far. I’m not taking unnecessary risks yet.”
Trained SG today in @vailmtn & felt great! Taking it step by step and so far so good! #IWILL… http://t.co/lcimIUxr49
— lindsey vonn (@lindseyvonn) November 29, 2013
Encouraged by how her knee – she partially tore her ACL in the latest crash – responded, Vonn said, “It’s looking a lot better than everyone expected. Things are going well.”
Photo Gallery: Lindsey Vonn – World’s Sexiest Skier
She is missing the ongoing World Cup event in Beaver Creek, Colo., but has her sights set on competing next week in Lake Louise, Canada. When asked why she’s pushing so hard to come back now as opposed to resting more, Vonn replied, “Because I want to start in Lake Louise.”
Her determination may be stemming from a summer of watching her boyfriend, Tiger Woods, the world’s top-ranked golfer. She had this to say in the latest issue of “The Red Bulletin”:
“Tiger says he wants to be fitter than all the others, that’s his way. So he pushes himself a lot further than he perhaps needs to, and to see that pushes me in turn. The other unbelievable thing about Tiger is his mental toughness. There were moments in golf tournaments where I said to myself, ‘Okay, Lindsey, this is the next level of self-confidence, concentration, control. When you make it to this level, it will make you a better skier,'” she said.
Related Links: Vonn Unsure of Olympics | Vonn Partially Tears ACL
More Lindsey Vonn:
– Tiger Woods Skis With Lindsey Vonn in Colorado
– Lindsey Vonn: Tiger Woods is ‘Dorky-Goofy’
– Photo Gallery: Lindsey Vonn – World’s Sexiest Skier
– Lindsey Vonn Talks Tiger, Skiing on ‘Letterman’
– Lindsey Vonn Explains Squirrel Scare Tactic
– Tiger Not Supporting Lindsey at Sochi?
– 9 Golfers We’re Thankful For
