18 February,2010 08:37 AM IST | | AFP
German star Maria Riesch admitted her dream of Olympic gold was destroyed when she lost her nerve after witnessing a series of crashes in yesterday's downhill.
Riesch finished a poor eighth, more than two seconds behind winner and close friend Lindsey Vonn, as a host of competitors, including Swedish medal hope Anja Paerson, tumbled out of contention.
"I was a bit too conservative I knew lots of people were crashing," said the 25-year-old after failing to give Germany a first medal of any colour since Katja Seizinger, who won gold in 1994 and 1998.
"Two people crashed in front of me. Of course you have to concentrate on yourself as you handle this course, which was one of the toughest ever."
As well as Paerson's crash, the German had witnessed previous racer Marion Rolland of France also come to grief.
"Down towards the finish I thought I was going to die, there were so many bumps coming down. (But) Lindsey is the best downhiller of the season so there's no surprise.
"It's the Olympics and actually only medals count. I didn't ski well enough to get a medal," added a forthright Riesch who praised the mental toughness of the Americans as Vonn's compatriot Julia Mancuso grabbed silver.
"The Americans are always good for medals at big events," said the German, who is competing at her first Games having missed two seasons after tearing cruciate ligaments in her knee just before the Turin Games.
