Vonn improving daily, enjoying extra rest

By Patrick Vignal

WHISTLER (Reuters) - Olympic downhill favorite Lindsey Vonn is getting better each day and welcoming the extra time off she is having due to bad weather, her husband said on Friday.

The American, who bruised her shin in training last week and feared she might miss the Games, has only done course inspections so far because the downhill training runs scheduled for Thursday and Friday were canceled.

"It's definitely getting better each day," Vonn's husband Thomas, a former Olympic skier, told reporters on Friday.

Vonn, chasing five medals and strong favorite for the downhill and super-G, discovered on Friday that the opening women's event, the super-combined, would not take place on Sunday and would be rescheduled.

"We welcome these days off and are taking it day by day," Thomas Vonn added. "She didn't really ski on it today, it was just an inspection run so she didn't put any stress on the leg or anything, it was just super easy.

"Now she has another rest day with lots of therapy, laser, massage. This helps us, for sure."

Vonn looked relaxed and flashed a smile when she skied past reporters during Friday's inspection down the Franz's Downhill piste.

Swede Anja Paerson, one of Vonn's main rivals, said she did not believe Vonn would be hampered by the injury.

"I see her skiing and that makes me believe she's in good shape," Paerson told reporters.

(Editing by Ed Osmond)