Double champion Riesch spares a thought for Vonn

From Sportsbeat staff, in Vancouver

 MARIA Riesch was all smiles after confirming her status as Germany's golden girl with her second Olympic title on Friday - but still found time to offer words of sympathy for best friend Lindsey Vonn.

DOUBLING UP: Germany's Maria Riesch celebrates her second gold medal of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver (Getty Images)

Riesch and Vonn are arguably the strongest two female skiers on the circuit. They are ranked the top two in the overall rankings and in all but one of the specialist disciplines - and they're thick as thieves.

Vonn, however, commands more attention and these were due to be her Olympics if you believed the endless Vonn-couver headlines, but as Riesch captured her second gold medal of the Games, her American rival failed to finish the race for the third time.

Vonn did capture downhill gold but Riesch has outshone her in Vancouver with the super combined and slalom titles, while Vonn leaves Vancouver with a gold, a bronze and a broken finger, suffered in the opening run of the giant slalom.

Riesch meanwhile, ended her Olympic debut on a high, clinched Germany's third alpine gold medal in Whistler but still spared a thought for her great friend and rival.

"It was hard for her today," said Riesch. "Because of her finger she had lots of pain. Her confidence in slalom is not too good. I feel really sorry for her and I hope she can go home happy.

"I knew the course would not be too tough. I tried to keep the line. On the flat it was 'full attack'.

"The piste is OK but it will be tough to keep my lead. In Are, Sweden, I have been in front with six tenths of a second and I lost it.

"I have to use my brain in the steep sections. There will be some ruts. And they are not my best."

And while Riesch had some words of commiseration for Vonn, she also tried to comfort her younger sister Susanne, who was placed fourth after the first run, only to ski out just metres from the finishing line in her second.

"It is our biggest dream, to share the podium once," said Maria.

"We were leading in Flacau, Austria, once and then we messed up. She skied out and I had a big mistake. I hope this doesn't happen again because we could have done it here but I'm sure we will do it one day soon."

  AS IT HAPPENS: Day 15 of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver