VANCOUVER VOICE: Team-mates rally to support crocked Vonn

IN any other news conference, talk about Lindsey Vonn's recent scantily-clad appearance in Sports Illustrated would have been a news line to saviour and titillate.

COVER GIRL: Lindsey Vonn was the cover star of the recent Sports Illustrated - and revealed a whole lot more inside

But when the American skier, a white-hot favourite for five medals in Vancouver, revealed she is a major doubt to compete, after injuring herself in training last week, such discussion seemed a little frivolous.

But Vonn seemed happy to discuss anything but her crocked right shin, appearing to fight back the tears as the Olympic press pack, sniffing their first big story, fired down a barrage of medical questions worthy of Doctor Kildare or Doogie Howser MD.

“Sports Illustrated is a respected magazine and they’ve always done classy and tactful pictures. I think the photos turned out really well, although I prefer some of the pictures on the website to those in the magazines,” said Vonn.

“It was a cool opportunity and I’m really pleased I took it.”

Julia Mancuso, who will defend her giant slalom title in Vancouver and is also not averse to flashing the flesh, was quick to rally to Vonn’s cause - and plug the imminent launch of her own lingerie range.

“It’s great that we can show off the first thing on and the last thing off,” she joked.

“I loved seeing Lindsey in a bikini and she’s going to have to sign my copy.

“It’s important for all of us to embrace our femininity. It’s nice to be appreciated for more than just our sport.”

And Kaylin Richardson, competing in her second Olympics, admitted she was a little green-eyed by the revealing photo-shoot.

“Lindsey can show these pictures to her kids and say Mom was super hot and super fast,” she said.

“I’m a little jealous, I’m thinking of commissioning a photographer to take some of me.”