Vonn tries out aching shin and feels upbeat

WHISTLER, Canada - Each of her steps Thursday was seen as a sign that, yes, Lindsey Vonn might very well compete in five Olympic races after all, and that she again might be able to think about medals, not medicine.

Painkillers and Novocaine-like numbing cream for the American's badly bruised right shin seemed to dull the aching. She strapped on ski boots, something that proved painful and depressing every time she tried it last week, and did a course inspection.

Vonn skied down a hill for the first time since getting injured Feb. 2, even if was only a free run and not on the official course. It hurt, sure, but it convinced Vonn she was ready to take part in the opening women's Olympic downhill training session later in the day.

Alas, that practice was called off after only two races because of thick fog and low visibility. But even that development was deemed encouraging by the group known as the Vonntourage.

"I was happy to be back on snow today," Vonn said. "My shin was still very painful, but I feel like the injury is finally progressing a bit. I am always disappointed when a training run is canceled, but in this situation, I definitely welcome the extra day to heal."

Her husband, Thomas, who serves as her coach and chief adviser, called the cancellation "fantastic."

"It's not like all her competitors are getting multiple runs down the course. Nobody got to ski it, really, today," he said. "So it's another day of healing, and hopefully tomorrow she feels even better."

He said she still aims to race in all five women's Alpine events at these Olympics, which certainly would be a relief to the U.S. Ski Team, NBC and her sponsors.

"She's never taken any races off the table. It's going to be a day-to- day: If she can do it, she's going to do it," Thomas Vonn said. "But she's not pulling out of anything at this point, and it's looking better than it was yesterday."

U.S. Ski Team women's coach Jim Tracy was as optimistic as anyone. He knows full well her history of brushing aside injuries and pain - whether it was making the quick transition from hospital bed to starting gate after a horrific crash in downhill training at the 2006 Turin Olympics, or managing not to miss a single race after badly bruising her arm in December.

Said Tracy of his team's most famous member: "She'll be ready."