Vonn versus Riesch: May the best best friend win (News Feature)

By David Hein Feb 16, 2010, 2:48 GMT

Whistler, Canada - After a long wait, Lindsey Vonn and Maria Riesch were finally together again atop a mountain on Monday, ready to put aside their strong friendship and battle for the first women's alpine medal of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Riesch sported bib number 10 for Monday's downhill training on the David Murray piste while Vonn started just five skiers later with bib 15.

It was the first time the women skiers were on the slopes readying for a training run since Thursday when only two skiers were able to start before the practice run was called off due to adverse weather conditions, which have dominated the headlines with numerous cancellations.

Monday signalled the official re-start of the rivalry among best friends - and one which ruled the World Cup circuit and is expected to result in a number of medals in the five alpine events as the German Riesch and/or the American Vonn are among the favourites for gold.

'It is a nice, difficult downhill and I like it a lot. I can't wait to race,' said Riesch, who is stronger in the slalom and combination events while Vonn tends to have a leg up in the downhill and super-G.

Vonn has admitted that if she cannot win a gold medal that she would rather have Riesch win than any other skier.

'Whoever is faster, wins. It's as easy as that. And if I can't do it, then of course I hope that my best friend wins. One of us is better than neither of us,' said Vonn.

The relationship between Vonn and Riesch - both 25 years old and born a month apart - dates back to the 2000 junior world championships in Quebec.

It has grown so strong that Vonn has spent the last five Christmas seasons at Riesch's house in Garmisch, Germany, including the last two with her husband, Thomas. The ski duo also vacation with one another during the summer.

'They have their own room,' Riesch said of the Vonns. 'They're part of the family.'

Both skiers also have not been shy about displaying their beauty with both taking part in sexy photo shoots. Vonn appeared in the popular swimsuit issue of the American magazine Sports Illustrated and Riesch admits to having declined offers to pose nude in Playboy.

But the photo shoots and friendship are brushed aside during the competition.

The German mass tabloid Bild even suggested that Vonn was trying to play 'psychological games' games with Riesch by saying that her shin was injured.

While Riesch said she understands the pain Vonn is going through with the shin injury, she told Bild: 'It was really overdramatized.'

She also said the two have become a bit distant with the Olympics ready to heat up for the pair.

'There are two levels now. On the one we are friends on the other we're on the pistes. We aren't enemies but something has changed,' said Riesch.

'We aren't so close anymore on the pistes. We've become quite distant in the last few weeks.'

May the best friend win.