Double gold medallist Riesch betters friend Vonn (News Feature)

By David Hein Feb 27, 2010, 0:56 GMT

Whistler, Canada - Lindsey Vonn of the United States came into the 2010 Winter Olympics as the overwhelming favourite to dominate the alpine medals podium.

But her best friend Maria Riesch of Germany grabbed two gold medals to the American's one to put a damper on the 'Vonn-couver Games'.

Riesch captured the gold medal in Friday's women's slalom to go along with her title in the super combined. Vonn crashed out of her third race on the Whistler slopes and will return home with downhill gold and super-g bronze.

'Lindsey was having a lot of bad luck altogether. But looking at all the circumstances I think she's happy with gold and bronze even if maybe people were expecting more,' said Riesch, who hugged Vonn at the finish area on Friday and talked at length with her.

Riesch and Vonn - both 25 years old and born a month apart - are good friends, with the relationship dating 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.

But Riesch will have bragging rights this summer.

'I just can't describe how good it feels. To win gold in combined is good but to win gold here is incredible,' she said.

Riesch has now became Germany's first women's slalom gold medal winner since 1998 when Hilde Gerg took gold in Nagano. She is the first German to win two alpine golds at one Games since Katja Seizinger won the downhill and combined in 1998.

Riesch did, however, wish all the best to her good friend after Friday's race.

'It was hard for her today. Because of her finger she had lots of pain. Her confidence in slalom is not too good. I feel really sorry for her and I hope she can go home happy,' she said.

And that is the case for Vonn.

'I am definitely happy I got my gold. I could have done better but I wanted the gold,' said Vonn, who had the pressure of the Games being nicknamed the 'Vonn-couver Olympics' by American media members.

'You have to keep in perspective what your own goals are. I tried to be realistic. I tried for one medal at the time. I know I could have done better but I gave it my all.'

Vonn came into the Olympics fighting a shin injury, which was helped by a number of race cancellations early in the Games. And in the first run of the giant slalom, Vonn crashed out and broke her right little finger.

'I am going home happy, maybe a little more broken than before,' said Vonn. 'It was a long shot today to do well with breaking my finger. I just feel tired.'

Vonn and Riesch can now look forward to the rest of the World Cup season and the world championships in Garmisch-Partenkirchen next year. Then the friendship can continue off the slopes - with two 2010 medals apiece.