All entitled to our opinions.....most based on what we see on TV cuts, or read in the largely uniformed mainstream press.
I may be a bit closer to this, relative to others. Three years ago, I was incredibly disappointed with her, in general. Mainly because she was pouring energy into "her brand", doing the S.I. bathing suit issue, trying to develop a beach and runway body, spending a lot of time in LA {to the point of buying a home there.} In general there was no camera that she didn't like. She spent less time in the gym, I hear, than ever, and less time in the summer on snow. It basically turned around after she broke her arm. And when this past spring and summer arrived with the reality of this being nearer the end of her career, I hear {from people working with her} that she was not only all in, but has never worked harder. With a few breaks in time, again, what I hear, from coaches all over the world is that nobody works harder. MS, gives us the "dual threat", as nobody spends more time on snow than she does. But not many spend 6-8 hours a day in the gym.....
So, when she says "I worked my butt off", I will cut her some slack. She could have said that "I work harder than anybody in this sport, because I am NOT a great natural athlete, and I have been doing it longer than anybody in the sport", and she would have been 100% accurate. But she did not. Not close.
The comment that everybody had the same wind, visibility, etc. to deal with is not really accurate. It hurt some, it helped others. Having a swirling wind on your tail at the right time is good. In your face, not so much. Is it wrong to say "I had some wind?" Is it wrong to explain how running #1 in the SG was no bargain? That format is stupid, and likely to change, BTW. Your #14 raked racer should nt be favored over #9 and #10.......Dumb.
The skis. OK, believe it or not, but her skis on race day were the deciding factor, and while she did not point any fingers or pitch a fit {as MANY others would have}, is it wrong to say that he skis were burned. She didn't blame her tech, or throw him under the bus. She did say that she was proud of her younger teammates. She honestly is a good friend and a big sister type to Sofia Goggia. She's a big influence on Alice McKennis, and all of the USA speed girls. BTW, nobody treated her the same when she was coming up. But here's the "acid test" on her skis. No chance on earth that the other skiers on Head, including the other two from the USA would have been that close, when she skied cleanly. She has earned the right to have the best prepped and fastest skis under her feet. The surface and conditions were very screwy. The whole ski world is saying so. Whatever was done to prep her skis, in terms of the structure and the wax/overlays........the skis were cooked about 15 seconds into her run. Any woman racer that I know {and I know "a few"} would have likely been off the wall. Let alone the best ever, in her last olympics. She may have said "yeah, my skis got burned and it cost me." The S*** that's going down away from her on this is far worse.
So, NO, not everybody dealt with base burn to that degree. Some companies evidently had remarkably little. Some Head skiers had very little, or none. Did her skis run well in the combined speed run {her terms were that they felt "good", "they were accelerating"}? Yes. Did they suck in the DH? Yep. Did everybody else's? No. Some no doubt. Just look at the USA and other Head results. So was her statement that bad?
We make a lot of judgements about people that we see in the public light. We all do. I can absolutely understand why many people might not "like" LV at all, and might be put off by her. I get it. A few years ago, I was at an event where some younger mothers were talking about what a great role model LV was. At that time, pretty sure that would be a no. Today, I'd say yes. Saw her in Aspen in late December and she was awesome. Just incredible with kids. Loving her being on snow.
Same thing with MS. "Such a delight and great role model." Based on........? People's direct inside knowledge? People who know her just might have a few more interesting views about Team S.
LV is far, far from perfect. No question. For those who have known her and seen a lot of her for 25+ years, that's obvious. But, I really can't take issue with her statement that she worked her butt off, given the realities. I can't take issue with her comments on the ski, though I might not have posted the picture on Twitter.
She's not in the same position of any other other female ski racer at the games, and yes she is no doubt very disappointed. Maybe I missed some of what the rest of you are so critical about. I've heard from a number of people there, and pretty damn close to her in proximity, that she's been great to everybody she meets. Incredibly supportive to her teammates {male and female}, very gracious and friendly with the other women. Heck, look at the blast she had at the opening ceremonies. Ohh, other big name alpine racers? Largely too important to be there. Maybe MS had to nap.
It was pointed out to me that the world expected her to win the DH, and likely the SG. This whole "thing" with the US Press, and NBC
naming clear and prohibitive favorites, virus the subtle change of saying that she is one of he top favorites expected to contend, is a big one. The questions being asked of her were in some cases pretty pointed, including ones that we were not shown. Same thing with MS after her SL. No doubt there are pople who think that both KV and MS choked in the combined. Won a silver and choked. Insane.
OK....."Why didn't you win?" I think she handled it pretty well. Producer into ear of reporter "Get at her grandfather......get some emotion and tears." I would bet that was going on.
I know too much about this sport, and about too many of the people. I love sports, but my wife and I are pretty tired of the Olympics. Even on some small details that NBC persists in getting wrong. Nothing that effects LV. But things that do affect other friends of ours. I'm very glad to not be there. Everybody who's there because of the skiing is just exhausted...fried. This was a lousy pick for alpine racing.
I think LV did pretty well. Guess others hold her to a higher standard. I recall hearing an Italian skier official presenting her with a medal and trophy and telling her that she would be the best ski racer in the world......when she was 12. Been a long road.
Her competitors like her. They pretty much couldn't stand Mancuso, and they all think that MS is a bit strange {though a to better and more mature these days in many ways.......just odd on race days and on the hill}. That's bigger acid test to me than what most of us think we know.
I'm not discussing any more about her in public. Can't. Let's say that my opinions differ from many others here, I guess. All good, I hope!
