OLYMPICS, ALPINE SKIING. WHISTLER, CREEKSIDE - On what several racers said was the most difficult course they've ever skied in the women's downhill, Lindsey Vonn walked away with the thing she's worked her entire life for ... an Olympic gold medal.

Lindsey Vonn of the United States competes during the Alpine Skiing Ladies Downhill on day 6 of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics at Whistler Creekside on February 17, 2010 in Whistler, Canada. (February 16, 2010 - Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images North America)

Lindsey Vonn of the United States competes during the Alpine Skiing Ladies Downhill on day 6 of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics at Whistler Creekside on February 17, 2010 in Whistler, Canada. (February 16, 2010 - Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images North America)

The only racer to come within a second of Vonn, who forgot about the pain in her leg for the 1 minute, 44.19 seconds it took her to win the race, was Julia Mancuso, who was 0.56 back for the silver medal. It was the first downhill podium for the 25-year-old from Squaw Valley, California since her third place in the World Cup downhill two years ago at Whistler.

Julia Mancuso of the USA takes the Silver Medal during the Women's Alpine Skiing Downhill on Day 6 of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games on February 17, 2010 in Whistler Creekside, Canada. (January 23, 2009 - Photo by Agence Zoom/Getty Images North America)

Following in the Olympic footsteps her mother set 50 years ago, Elisabeth Goergl took the bronze medal, 1.46 seconds off of Vonn's pace. Goergl's mother, Traudl Hecher, took bronze in the downhill in both the 1960 and '64 Games.

Elisabeth Goergl of Austria takes the Bronze Medal during the Women's Alpine Skiing Downhill on Day 6 of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games on February 17, 2010 in Whistler Creekside, Canada. (January 23, 2009 - Photo by Agence Zoom/Getty Images North America)

But any woman who raced Wednesday would tell you that it wasn't easy. Franz's Run, constructed new for the Olympics, is replete with sudden bank turns, rollers and an enormous jump that sent some more than 60 meters into the air and caused several to crash Wednesday, starting with one of the forerunners.

Then, the first racer on course crashed around the tricky right turn called Frog Bank but when Goergl came down wearing bib No. 5, she didn't collapse until she crossed the finish line ... exhausted and thrilled.

Mancuso, who, after the training run was the one race to say she was "excited" about the bumps on course that caused racers' skis to chatter like loose pebbles the whole way down, clearly knows how to pique at the Games. She put down what many described as a "perfect" run, nearly a second ahead of Goergl.

Though Vonn nor several other contenders - including Anja Paerson and Maria Riesch - had run yet, Chemmy Alcott declared that Mancuso's run would win gold.

"It was a perfect run," Alcott said. "I'm calling it right now ... gold."

Immediately after Mancuso, Swiss racer Dominique Gisin, just one month off of her eighth career knee surgery, was horrifically thrown askew over the Hot Air Jump and crashed hard just before the finish line, somehow managing to stand up and walk out, saying that mostly it was her head that ached.

At least one more racer crashed out before Vonn, starting No. 16, but the American world champion was undaunted. Her husband, Thomas Vonn gave her the course report, informing her of Mancuso's perfect run and asking if she'd like him to be there at the start.

"He said, 'you're going to have to have an exceptional run to beat that," Lindsey Vonn said. "I was like, 'I got it.' I went out there and skied the way I normally ski. When I crossed the finish line I saw my name No. 1 ... it was one of the best feelings I've ever had."

Vonn, not normally one to cry, broke down in tears after it was clear that the gold was hers.

"It's everything I ever wanted or hoped for," she said. "I new what I had to do, I knew what kind of run it would take. I attacked the whole way down. I am just so thankful."

Thomas Vonn had a feeling that his wife would be fine when, unlike before winning her world championship gold last season where she requested he be by her side in the start house, she told him that she would be fine on her own.

"The expectations and the weight of this were incredible," Thomas Vonn said of the pressure on his wife coming into the Games. "I'd be lying if I said it didn't affect her somehow. She was much more composed than I thought she would be."

Mancuso, too, found composure in the start gate, though she said she was so nervous she had to force herself to eat before the race. Also, though her top downhill finish this season was eighth in Cortina, Mancuso had a feeling she'd get another Olympic medal (following her giant slalom gold in 2006).

"I've always known I would get a medal here," she said. "My big goals have always been in the Olympics. I've just stayed positive and believed that no matter what is going on around me, I have the ability to be on the podium."

Like Mancuso, Goergl enjoyed the course, bumps and all.

"It's really exciting," the Austrian said. "It's really difficult and challenging. I think it's one of the best courses we ever had. I like the preparation. They didn't do it like this [with the bumps] on purpose, but I think it makes it good. You can't tuck all the time. You have to work and fight."

When asked how the course was for her, Tina Maze, who finished 18th, said "I need a massage."

"It's very hard to ski and it's bumpy all the time, no rest, big jumps ... it's really hard," she said. "I was afraid. I didn't want to risk anything."

Maze also said her fear increased after Anja Paerson, who, on her way to winning a medal within a second of Vonn's lead time, also became a victim of the Hot Air Jump. Pedaling her arms in the air with skis apart, Paerson landed beyond the 60-meter mark and fell backwards. She stood and was helped off course, but the extent of her injuries wasn't clear.

Anja Paerson of Sweden competes during the Alpine Skiing Ladies Downhill on day 6 of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics at Whistler Creekside on February 17, 2010 in Whistler, Canada. (February 16, 2010 - Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images North America)

Anja Paerson of Sweden crashes during the Alpine Skiing Ladies Downhill on day 6 of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics at Whistler Creekside on February 17, 2010 in Whistler, Canada. (February 16, 2010 - Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images North America)

Anja Paerson of Sweden is attended to after falling during the Alpine Skiing Ladies Downhill on day 6 of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics at Whistler Creekside on February 17, 2010 in Whistler, Canada. (February 16, 2010 - Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images North America)

"She's OK. She is happy to have survived the crash as well as she did," said Swedish coach Ulf Emilsson. "If you know Paerson like I do, you know she'll probably be back."

Maria Riesch had the unenviable position of racing immediately after Paerson's crash and ended up eighth. Marion Rolland, running before Paerson, crashed as she was skating out of the start gate and Riesch, while waiting for Paerson to clear the course, had to watch the French racer being treated.

"She got brought up the ski hill and got treatment right next to the start and it was not perfect for me," Riesch said. "Yes, I am a little angry. Tomorrow I will try to do better. Right now I just have to calm down and prepare for tomorrow."

Olympic alpine racing continues Thursday with women's super-combined.

by Shauna Farnell
FISalpine.com
Thursday 18 February 2010

Lindsey Vonn of the United States competes during the Alpine Skiing Ladies Downhill on day 6 of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics at Whistler Creekside on February 17, 2010 in Whistler, Canada. (February 16, 2010 - Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images North America)

Julia Mancuso of the USA takes the Silver Medal during the Women's Alpine Skiing Downhill on Day 6 of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games on February 17, 2010 in Whistler Creekside, Canada. (February 16, 2010 - Photo by Francis Bompard/Agence Zoom/Getty Images North America)

Lindsey Vonn of the United States reacts after competing during the Alpine Skiing Ladies Downhill on day 6 of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics at Whistler Creekside on February 17, 2010 in Whistler, Canada. (February 16, 2010 - Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images North America)

Lindsey Vonn of the United States celebrates winning the gold medal during the flower ceremony for the Alpine Skiing Ladies Downhill on day 6 of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics at Whistler Creekside on February 17, 2010 in Whistler, Canada. (February 16, 2010 - Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images North America)

Julia Mancuso of the United States celebrates winning silver, Lindsey Vonn of the United States gold and Elisabeth Goergl of Austria bronze during the flower ceremony for the Alpine Skiing Ladies Downhill on day 6 of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics at Whistler Creekside on February 17, 2010 in Whistler, Canada. (February 16, 2010 - Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images North America)