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(2010-02-20 19:42:08)
WHISTLER (Reuters) - Austrian Andrea Fischbacher ran away with the women's Olympic super-G crown on Saturday to ruin American Lindsey Vonn's dreams of a golden double.
The 24-year-old from Eben im Pongau took full advantage of a tricky course set by her own coaches to hand Austria a first Alpine skiing gold of the Games with a winning time of one minute 20.14 seconds.
Slovenia's Tina Maze, a giant slalom silver medalist at last year's world championships, then produced a stunning run to cross the line 0.49 seconds slower than Fischbacher and snatch second place from Vonn who had to settle for bronze.
The Slovenian, her country's first Olympic medalist in Alpine skiing since the 1994 Lillehammer Games, thrust her arms in the air and whooped in delight while Fischbacher breathed a sigh of relief.
"I like a tight course and I like a difficult race," said Fischbacher, a super-G bronze medalist at the 2009 world championships.
"We had not been doing so well in the speed events but we knew we could have a good result if we got everything right and I believed in my chances. This is a dream come true."
Vonn, who has already won the super-G World Cup title and had hoped to become the first U.S. Alpine skier in 58 years to win two golds at a single Games, had been the favorite after dominating the downhill on Wednesday.
She had looked all set for another commanding win after blitzing the piste quicker than anyone but Fischbacher, starting two places after her, swiftly pushed her off the top of the podium.
"I knew everyone was having trouble at the top and I really attacked," said Vonn.
"Once I got past the difficult section, I kind of backed off the gas. I think that's where I lost the race."
Maze was, however, really delighted with her silver. "It's almost like I won gold. It's a great feeling," she told reporters.
Despite that, the American said she was happy with her second medal of the Games.
"I came here just hoping to get a medal and I got one gold. This is just the icing on the cake," she told reporters. "I can't be too disappointed. Any medal at the Games is a success."
Five of the first 15 starters, including Canadian faller Emily Brydon, failed to reach the finish in the tricky conditions.
(Editing by Jon Bramley)
