The Winnacunnet High School girls alpine ski team placed second at Monday's Division I state championship meet at Gunstock Ski Resort.

By Martyn Herman BORMIO, Italy, Feb 10 (Reuters) - When Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen pipped Italy's Giovanni Franzoni to gold by a whisker in the Olympic downhill it cemented a new rivalry that could dominate Alpine skiing's speed disciplines for years to come.

The Alpine combined event sees two athletes representing the same country race in one discipline each — downhill and slalom.

American alpine skier River Radamus highlights the critical role of ski technicians and equipment preparation ahead of Olympic competition, emphasizing trust, collaboration and precision as athletes push the limits at high speeds on challenging courses.

It was heartbreak for Bella Wright on Tuesday when she missed a gate in the downhill leg of the women’s team combined, meaning her U.S. teammate Nina O’Brien could not start the later slalom leg — but the new-look Olympic event itself looks set to become a fixture of the Games.

Former Olympian and alpine ski racer Alice McKennis Duran spoke with NBC News’ Tom Llamas about Lindsey Vonn’s crash at the Winter Olympics, discussed the technical aspects of the sport, and Breezy Johnson’s first Olympic medal.

On the first Sunday of the Olympic Winter Games, downhill skier Breezy Johnson captured the first gold for Team USA. And alpine racer Lindsay Vonn crashed and was transported to the hospital with a broken leg.

By Alan Baldwin, Sara Rossi and Cristina Carlevaro CORTINA D'AMPEZZO/TREVISO, Italy, Feb 8 (Reuters) - U.S. ski great Lindsey Vonn had surgery on a broken leg in an Italian hospital after her audacious bid to win Olympic downhill gold with a ruptured knee ligament ended in a horrific crash after 13 seconds on Sunday.