Iowa Connection To Olympian Lindsey Vonn KWQC 6
This week, U.S. Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn became the first American woman ever to win the Olympic downhill, and she did it with an injured leg. No one was happier to see Vonn win the gold than her kid sister, who happens to live in Iowa.
You've probably never heard of Laura Kildow, and that's fine with her. She's happy living the unassuming life of a 19-year-old student at the University of Iowa. Laura's very much the typical college freshman, except for one thing: her big sister is now probably the most famous female athlete in the world.
"It was amazing," Laura said about Wednesday night's victory. Laura says just like everyone else, she watched on pins and needles as Lindsey made her run for the gold.
"It was so nerve-wracking. There were 2 falls before her, and I didn't know what was wrong with the course or what, so it was really scary," Kildow said.
Adding to the drama was Lindsey's well-publicized shin injury. Many questioned how she would perform, but not her kid sister watching back in Iowa. Laura remembers Lindsey's determination to teach her to ski, even before she could walk. So when it came time for Lindsey to attack the slope 18 years later, Laura had no doubt.
"I was so excited. To watch it on TV, you could see it in her eyes. She was going to win it!"
Laura had to watch it on TV because she couldn't afford to take the time off from school.
You can hear more from Laura Kildow Friday live on Quad Cities Today, when she stops by the TV6 studios to talk more about her big sister's performance in the 2010 winter games.
