< Previous Page
"Just a thrill to be there and see her do so well," Kildow said.
To celebrate, the family all went out for a big dinner. That meant a lot to Kildow, who’s grateful for another chance to be a figure in her life.
His role now is simple: He won’t try to coach or dispense advice, just be a proud parent.
"My job is to stand on the side on the hill, clap my hands and be supportive," Kildow said. "And that’s what I’m going to do, as I’ve always done. I’m just a little closer now than in the past few years."
Kildow knew his daughter was capable of this type of season, where she flirted with Maier’s record mark of 2,000 points.
Well, maybe not exactly like this, but a memorable season with everything coming together.
She even predicted it — in a way.
When Vonn was in third grade, she wrote an essay in which she proclaimed she was going to be an elite skier and win more Olympic gold medals than anybody else.
"She didn’t say more World Cup races, because she didn’t know about that," Kildow said. "She’s a goal-oriented individual. She always has been. It’s great to see her performing like this."
As for a possible name change for next season, Vonn quashed that notion, electing to stick with Vonn. It just felt right.
-
West Valley City Mayor Winder won’t seek re-election
Published May 22, 2013 08:30:15AM -
FBI: Man fatally shot in Boston bombing probe
Published May 22, 2013 08:00:02AM -
Official: Treasury played no role in IRS targeting
Published May 22, 2013 07:58:03AM -
Utah forecast: Warm and windy as weekend approaches
Published May 22, 2013 07:38:05AM
"Vonn is who I am. I’ve had the name for a while now," she said. "It’s just a feeling I have. I think it would be weird for me to change it back. I’m a different person now than I was then. It’s just a part of who I am now."
By any name, Vonn has been hard to beat.
She won an American record fourth World Cup crown this season, wrestling the title away from friend and chief rival Maria Hoefl-Riesch of Germany.
Even more, she placed second in the giant slalom standings, the best finish of her career and the event she’s been working hard to improve.
"In general, Lindsey has always been amazing," Mancuso said. "But to pick it up in the GS, that was really impressive."
As longtime adversaries, Mancuso and Vonn have always maintained a very competitive relationship. This season, it changed as Mancuso provided a shoulder for Vonn when she went through the separation from her husband.
"Jules and I are getting along really well — the other girls on the team as well," Vonn said. "They’re cheering for me in the finish and I’m cheering for them. It’s never really happened that way for me.
"I feel like this is a new start. I feel like I have the same enthusiasm now as I did when I was a young kid. I’ve found a lot of peace on the slopes and I’ve really enjoyed it."
———
Reach out to AP Sports Writer Pat Graham on Twitter: http://twitter.com/pgraham34
Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
