Kildow shrugs off crash, will ski in downhill

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Lindsey Kildow has decided she is well enough to compete in the women's downhill.

'She’s going to give it a go,' coach says of skier who suffered severe spill

SAN SICARIO, Italy - Lindsey Kildow will ski after her nasty tumble. Defending champion Carole Montillet-Carles injured her rib, back and face in a crash on the same mountain, but she’s ready to go, too.

Janica Kostelic said she’s feeling better — but she’s out.

Kildow announced Wednesday morning that she was feeling well enough to ski.

“She is going to go,” U.S. women’s coach Patrick Riml told The Associated Press. “She already went through inspection this morning and she’s going to give it a go.”

Defending Olympic champion Montillet-Carles planned to start from the 34th position, Lionel Finance, director of the French Alpine skiing team, told The Associated Press.

Kostelic, of Croatia, was feeling better but decided to sit this one out.

“She said she would not start today for the downhill because, even though she is feeling better, they don’t want to risk anything,” team spokesman Ozren Muller said Wednesday morning. “They just want her to rest and be well enough for the next four races.”

Kildow, who won two World Cup downhills earlier this season, was discharged from the hospital Tuesday, though her lower back and pelvis still hurt. She took a nasty tumble Monday and spent the night in the hospital.

Montillet-Carles injured her rib, back and face in her crash. Kostelic pulled out suddenly before Tuesday’s training, saying she didn’t feel well — and was next seen hugging her brother, Ivica, as he won silver in the men’s combined Tuesday night.

Wednesday’s race had been hailed as the first showdown between rivals Kostelic and Paerson, who won on the San Sicario course last year and is trying to emulate the Croatian’s three golds in Salt Lake City four years ago.

Both skiers have entered all five Alpine skiing events.

The finish order determined the starting order for Wednesday’s race, with the top 30 going out in reverse order.

The Austrians said they wanted to start earlier because vision was better — after sunny mornings, high clouds have drifted over the Italian Alps midway through each training session.

“The light is very important down here,” said Dorfmeister, who has already clinched the season’s World Cup downhill title.

The Associated Press