Vonn says nice to be 'underdog' for giant slalom

Lindsey Vonn says she is looking forward to overcoming her alpine jinx in the giant slalom on the biggest stage of them all Wednesday, but happily admits she will start an underdog.

The American has yet to podium in a giant slalom race at international level, and hinted at her true expectations from the Olympic Games post-speed events after her super-G bronze last week.

However, with the injured shin she was nursing at the start of the Games now almost recovered, Vonn appears up for the challenge of a third Olympic medal.

Writing on her Facebook page, Vonn said Tuesday: "Freeskied on the GS race hill today, got two runs in (and) felt pretty good.

"I am getting excited for tomorrow (Wednesday), it feels kind of nice to be the underdog! Hopefully the weather holds up so we can get a good race in tomorrow."

Vonn won gold in the downhill, missed a certain medal when she crashed out in the second leg slalom of the super-combined then took a bronze from the super-G.

In Wednesday's race, Austrian Kathrin Zettel, an experienced World Cup campaigner who is second in the discipline standings, and Germany's Kathrin Hoelzl, the giant slalom leader, start as gold medal favourites.

Anja Paerson of Sweden and American Julia Mancuso, the defending Olympic champion, as well as super-G silver medallist Tina Maze of Slovenia, will also be strong challengers.

Among the outside bets towers Maria Riesch of Germany, who like Maze has performed well lately in the giant and is riding a wave of confidence after winning super-combined gold last week.

American teammate Julia Mancuso came into the Olympics expecting to be overshadowed by the more successful Vonn, but has delivered two silver medals from the downhill and super-combined.

Mancuso, the reigning Olympic giant slalom champion, might have failed to impress in the discipline this season, but she too is not ruling herself out.

"I really think I can put a couple of good runs together. Whether that's good for a medal, we'll just have to see."