Lindsey Vonn wants win in final Olympics for herself and grandfather
ILindsey Vonn
Memory of  her  grandfather gives  Lindsey Vonn  added motivation in final Winter Olympics
Yet  Lindsey Vonn  isnât nervous as  she  prepares for  her  final Olympics.  She  knows  her  beloved grandfather is watching out for  her   and that gives  her  a sense of calm and purpose that ought to strike fear in every one of  her  competitors.
âI feel really good â  Vonn  said Friday. âBecause itâs not really about me or my career. Itâs about my grandfather. Iâm just going to lay it all out there. Iâm going to give it everything I have and whatever happens will happen.â
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The Pyeongchang Games were supposed to put all of that to right  allow  her  to end  her  Olympic career the way  she  wanted rather than how the fates decided. That the Games are in South Korea made it all the more fitting.
Vonnâs grandfather  Don Kildow  served in Korea with the Army Corps of Engineers. He helped found a ski club where he lived in southern Wisconsin  and passed his love for the sport on to  Vonn âs father  Alan  and his granddaughter.
 Vonn  had hoped to bring  her  grandfather to Pyeongchang  but he died Nov. 1. He was 88.
âYou taught me to be tough  to be kind  and above all  to ski fast â  Vonn  wrote in an Instagram post after he died Nov. 1. âNow  every time I ski down the mountain I know youâll be there with  me . I âm  proud to be your granddaughter and I will think of you always.
âI will race for you in Korea and I will try as hard as I can to win for you. Please look out for  me .â
âI âm  going to win for him.â
 Vonn âs first race is the Super-G on Feb. 17.  She  also plans to race the downhill Feb. 21 and the Alpine combined Feb. 23.
âI feel like Iâm coming into these Olympics on a hot streak. Iâm skiing exceptionally well and I have a lot of confidence â  she  said. âIâm very happy with how I feel physically  mentally and on skis. Last weekend was just the icing on the cake  exactly what I needed to build my confidence and get ready for the Olympics.â
Making  her  results last weekend all the more impressive was that they came as several of  her  American teammates suffered devastating injuries.
Jackie Wiles  whom  Vonn  and her foundation have supported financially  will miss the Olympics after tearing her ACL and breaking two bones in  her  left leg during Saturdayâs race. Stacey Cook crashed Sunday. Though she was taken off the course on a sled  she is fine and here in Pyeongchang.
Memory of  her  grandfather gives  Lindsey Vonn  added motivation in final Winter Olympics
Yet  Lindsey Vonn  isnât nervous as  she  prepares for  her  final Olympics.  She  knows  her  beloved grandfather is watching out for  her   and that gives  her  a sense of calm and purpose that ought to strike fear in every one of  her  competitors.
âI feel really good â  Vonn  said Friday. âBecause itâs not really about me or my career. Itâs about my grandfather. Iâm just going to lay it all out there. Iâm going to give it everything I have and whatever happens will happen.â
More:  Lindsey Vonn 's Olympic dreams driven by need for speed
More:  Lindsey Vonn  brings dog to Olympics  addresses lonely life on road
More: Lindsey and  Lucy Vonn  becoming the darlings of 2018 Winter Olympics
The Pyeongchang Games were supposed to put all of that to right  allow  her  to end  her  Olympic career the way  she  wanted rather than how the fates decided. That the Games are in South Korea made it all the more fitting.
Vonnâs grandfather  Don Kildow  served in Korea with the Army Corps of Engineers. He helped found a ski club where he lived in southern Wisconsin  and passed his love for the sport on to  Vonn âs father  Alan  and his granddaughter.
 Vonn  had hoped to bring  her  grandfather to Pyeongchang  but he died Nov. 1. He was 88.
âYou taught me to be tough  to be kind  and above all  to ski fast â  Vonn  wrote in an Instagram post after he died Nov. 1. âNow  every time I ski down the mountain I know youâll be there with  me . I âm  proud to be your granddaughter and I will think of you always.
âI will race for you in Korea and I will try as hard as I can to win for you. Please look out for  me .â
âI âm  going to win for him.â
 Vonn âs first race is the Super-G on Feb. 17.  She  also plans to race the downhill Feb. 21 and the Alpine combined Feb. 23.
âI feel like Iâm coming into these Olympics on a hot streak. Iâm skiing exceptionally well and I have a lot of confidence â  she  said. âIâm very happy with how I feel physically  mentally and on skis. Last weekend was just the icing on the cake  exactly what I needed to build my confidence and get ready for the Olympics.â
Making  her  results last weekend all the more impressive was that they came as several of  her  American teammates suffered devastating injuries.
Jackie Wiles  whom  Vonn  and her foundation have supported financially  will miss the Olympics after tearing her ACL and breaking two bones in  her  left leg during Saturdayâs race. Stacey Cook crashed Sunday. Though she was taken off the course on a sled  she is fine and here in Pyeongchang.