'Happy' Vonn ends Olympics with only one gold

Lindsey Vonn's Olympics ended on Friday when she crashed out of the slalom, but the American insisted she met her expectations and would go home happy.

Coming into the Vancouver Games, Vonn was heavily tipped to win three gold.

She got the ball rolling by capturing the blue riband downhill title and then took bronze in the super-G.

But that's as good as it got as she crashed in the super-combined, the giant slalom and then again on Friday, when she straddled a gate high up the course to end her last chance for more glory.

Vonn, who is chasing a third overall World Cup title and has already won several world championship crowns, insisted she would leave happy despite missing out on three possible podium finishes.

"I'm definitely very happy with everything I've done here," she said, her little finger in a splint after she broke it during the giant slalom.

"I could have have done better in some disciplines, especially the super combined and also the giant slalom.

"I've been happy with my performances but the slalom has been a struggle all year.

"I went out there fighting but it was not my day," added Vonn, who was born in Minnesota but moved to Colorado as a child to pursue her ski dream.

"Going into these Games everyone expected a lot of me, but I tried to stay realistic. I tried for one medal at the time.

"Expectations have been very high. My own expectations have been met.

"I have the gold medal I came here for and I could not be happier. I was contemplating stopping after my crash in the giant slalom but that is just not who I am. I'm going home maybe a little more broken and bruised, but happy.

"I never want to give up. I'm a fighter, and the Olympics are something very special.

"I wanted to give myself every chance to try for another medal. I've had a lot of injuries this season but you've got to keep fighting."

Her close friend Maria Riesch, who won the slalom on Friday, said the finger injury and a sore shin made it difficult for Vonn to live up to the hype.

"Maybe she, and other people, were expecting a little bit more, but I think taking into consideration all of the circumstances she can be happy with the medals she's won," Riesch said.

Vonn has been one of the main draws over the last few seasons in alpine skiing, with the photogenic racer becoming a marketable media pin-up.

A bikini shoot for Sports Illustrated magazine and appearances on prime-time US television programmes have been a dream for the people behind her and skiing as a whole.

Her high-profile status even drew criticism this week from team-mate Julia Mancuso, herself no shrinking violet with her own lingerie range.

Mancuso said the attention Vonn received upset the US team dynamic although she then swiftly moved to play that down.

"It's really about both of us going out and skiing. Of course she's the focus of attention -- she's brilliant, she's the best skier we've had," said Mancuso of Vonn.

"Two world titles, numerous globes, that's really a huge accomplishment," added Mancuso, herself a double silver winner at these Games.

Vonn is due to appear alongside Brad Paisley and Jamie Foxx on Jay Leno's 'The Tonight Show' on Monday but she was adamant Friday that she would not be distracted come the next edition of the Games in four years time.

"Of course, I'll be there," she said when asked whether she would be at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.