Alpine Skiing

VANCOUVER -  Maybe the only thing more brilliant than Lindsey Vonn's skiing is her personality.

The woman who can be ruthless in winning World Cup events is intelligent, articulate and photogenic at the finish line. Combine Vonn's persona with her potential to win three or more gold medals and she easily could become the international face of the Vancouver Winter Olympics.

Think Michael Phelps in a parka. Get ready for the "Vonncouver Games.''

"Lindsey Vonn is the one athlete I can think of that would be a face of the Games not only in North America but in Europe and the Far East,'' says veteran broadcaster Brian Williams, who will cover his 13th Olympics. "She is so well known in Europe and so dominate in women's skiing.''

Vonn, of Vail, Colo., has won nine World Cup races this season in downhill, super-giant slalom and the combined event. The 25-year-old is also the two-time defending overall World Cup champion.

Crowning an American queen of the ski hill would boost NBC's television ratings much like Phelps' swimming did during the last Summer Games when his eight gold medals made him king of the pool.

NBC has already made Vonn the centre of its marketing campaign for the Games. The network helped sponsor a contest for people to design the artwork on her Olympic race helmet.

Vonn seems content to play along with the hype but understands the nature of ski racing.

"I haven't given any thought to even the possibility of winning more than one medal at the Olympics because it is going to be really tough,'' she said during a recent conference call.

"Nothing is guaranteed in ski racing. I am skiing really well right now but anything can happen on race day. All I am doing is preparing myself the best I can. I hope all the pieces come together for race day.''

Circumstances could conspire to make another athlete the face of the Games.

Defending his Olympic gold medal in halfpipe would further fuel the marketing machine around American snowboarder Shaun White. The world could fall under the charm of South Korean figure skater Kin Yu-Na should she win the women's figure skating.

Long-track speedskater Sven Kramer, already a superstar in his native Netherlands, could become an international heartthrob with a couple of gold medals. Imagine the media frenzy if NHL sniper Alexander Ovechkin leads Russia to the gold medal in men's hockey.

The face of the Vancouver Games might be an unknown during the Feb. 12 opening ceremonies.

"It's sometimes the athlete you wouldn't expect that emerges as the story,'' said Garnet Nelson, managing partner of Altius Sport Marketing in Vancouver. "It's the person and the true character that steals the story.''

Scotland's Rhona Martin gained hero status at the 2002 Salt Lake Games when her "stone of destiny'' earned Britain a gold medal in curling.

Steven Bradbury could have walked unnoticed down any street in Australia before he won the short-track 1,000 metres in Salt Lake, becoming the first athlete from Down Under to win a Winter Games gold medal.

Heartbreak can sometimes elbow out triumph.

It's hard to forget the look of agony etched on American speedskater Dan Jansen's face after falling in the 1,000 metres at the 1988 Calgary Games. He suffered an earlier fall in the 500 metres, a race he skated just hours after learning his sister had died of leukemia.

The lovable loser sometimes makes the best headlines. Eddie the Eagle floundered to fame in Calgary while few people can remember who actually won the ski jumping gold.

Nelson said the best way to become the face of the Games is to win often, and look good doing it.

"We humans are a fickle bunch,'' he said. "We tend to be on the lookout for the big story.

"It usually has to be a big win or a big human interest story. Both of them have some appeal. It's usually the medal story that has the staying power.''