ARE, Sweden (AP) — The Latest on the Alpine skiing world championships in Are, Sweden (all times local):
3:45 p.m.
The president of the International Ski Federation says Lindsey Vonn will "leave a big hole" in Alpine skiing when she quits the sport after the world championships in Sweden.
That's if she does indeed quit.
Gian Franco Kasper raised the intriguing possibility of Vonn continuing her illustrious career, saying: "Everything comes to an end and so does her career, if she really stops. We have to wait for that."
Vonn, who has persistent pain in both knees, says she is retiring because her body is "broken beyond repair." She is the world's most famous ski racer, raising the sport's profile more than anyone else.
Kasper says "she did a lot for skiing" and that "she is a (public relations) machine."
Kasper said "we will see" if skiing loses viewers because of Vonn's retirement, citing the impact Alberto Tomba had on the sport in Italy. "We had quotas of viewers you can't imagine. Nowadays in (southern Italy), nobody is watching Alpine skiing."
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3:20 p.m.
Lindsey Vonn, preparing for the final two races of her career, says her ailing knees feel fine after the opening downhill training session at the world championships.
Vonn placed 11th, 1.44 seconds behind leader Tamara Tippler of Austria.
Vonn says, "Today I was just trying to get a feel for the terrain and I wasn't looking to be fast, so in general, it was fine. It was solid. Hard going No. 1. I didn't really get the line right, but my knee feels decent so I'm looking forward to tomorrow and we'll see what happens."
Vonn, who started with the No. 1 bib Monday, stood up out of her tuck well before she crossed the finish line.
Last week, Vonn announced she will retire after the championships due to persistent pain in her knees.
She will race the super-G on Tuesday and the downhill on Sunday.
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