Kostelic garners 2nd gold medal
SANTA CATERINA VALFURVA, Italy – Ask Janica Kostelic about taking thyroid medication for the rest of her life, and she’ll shrug it off. Her many knee operations? Whatever. Mention her gold medal in the combined, and she’ll say she was happier finally flopping into bed that night.
Little seems to excite Kostelic, but she was most definitely animated Sunday after winning the downhill for her second gold medal of the Alpine World Championships.
“This may be my favorite victory,” she said. “It’s hard to say because all victories are special. But it’s something I never expected so soon, especially after last season. I don’t know how it happened.”
The Croatian star cut a daring line down the chilly, sun-drenched course to win in 1 minute, 39.90 seconds, adding another title to Friday’s combined.
Elena Fanchini of Italy rewarded the home crowd by taking the downhill silver in 1:40.16. Renate Goetschl of Austria was third in 1:40.29, beating Lindsey Kildow for a medal. The 20-year-old American finished fourth for the second time at these worlds and was sobbing in the finish area. Countrywoman Jonna Mendes was 12th.
“I don’t work six hours in the gym just to be fourth,” Kildow said. “I may be young, but my goal was to be world champion here. I have to go back to the drawing board to figure out what it’s going to take.”
Kostelic, a multiple Olympic champion, missed all of last season after thyroid surgery and several knee operations and hadn’t raced downhill in almost two years.
She came close to winning a downhill in 2002 when she finished sixth in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, but then encountered knee problems and had surgery four times in five months. Once finally clear of knee trouble, she began losing patches of hair, felt fatigued and had trouble with her vision.
She was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, and her thyroid gland was removed last winter. But nothing could dim her desire.
“Everybody quits too easily,” Kostelic said. “But you always come back stronger. You have to have confidence. You’re stronger because you’re more hungry after not skiing for a long time. Now I’m more sure and not afraid of speed or jumps.”