The Olympic torch destined for the 2010 Winter Olympics is
ignited in a ceremony in Greece on Thursday.
Photo: AP/Thanassis Stavrakis
Vonn opens World Cup season Saturday
As the flame for the 2010 Winter Olympics was lit in Greece on Thursday, Olympic-medal hopeful Lindsey Vonn made final preparations for her 2009-10 World Cup skiing debut. The first women's giant slalom race of the season is slated for Saturday in Soelden, Austria.
Vonn, of Vail, Colo., enters the World Cup season as the two-time defending overall champion. The race in Soelden is Vonn's first event since a switch in the off-season from Rossignol to Head skis. She finished ninth in the 2008 giant slalom at Soelden.
Click here for video of Vonn's 2008 Soelden race
Along with Vonn, the U.S. Ski Team lineup for Soelden also includes 2006 Olympic giant-slalom gold medalist Julia Mancuso, Sarah Schleper, Megan McJames, Resi Stiegler, Jessica Kelley and Warner Nickerson. Universal Sports will broadcast same-day coverage of the race at 10 a.m. ET.
American skier Lindsey Vonn accepts an award from
international ski journalists on Thursday in Soelden, Austria.
Photo: U.S. Ski Team
Vonn wins award in Soelden
On Thursday night in Soelden, Vonn accepted the "Skieur d’Or 2009," or "Golden Ski," an award given annually by the International Association of Ski Journalists. She became the first American since Phil Mahre more than 25 years ago and just the 10th woman since 1963 to win the award.
Click here for 2008-09 World Cup season slideshow of Vonn
"I'm really honored to receive this award," said Vonn, who turned 25 on Oct. 18. "Journalists are an important part of telling the story of our sport. So, to receive an award like this from the International Association of Ski Journalists makes it even more meaningful."
Click here for more Vonn photos in Soelden
2008 winner Aksel Lund Svindal from Norway, Didier Cuche, Carlo Janka, Daniel Albrecht and recently retired Hermann Maier also received votes cast by journalists from around the globe.
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