Riesch blames conservative approach

WHISTLER (Reuters) - Germany's Maria Riesch said she had been too conservative in tackling the Olympic downhill course on Wednesday when she finished eighth behind her great rival Lindsey Vonn.

Riesch has been the closest challenger to the dominating Vonn on the World Cup circuit this season and was expected to give the American a good run for her money but ended up a full 2.07 seconds behind the winner.

"It's the Olympic games and only medals count. My expectations were really high -- I had a good downhill season and I liked this downhill but the conditions were really tough and I didn't ski well enough to get a medal," she told Reuters.

Riesch had to cope with skiing after Swede Anja Paerson had suffered a spectacular crash and French skier Marion Rolland had fallen just after leaving the gate.

"I was little bit too conservative for that bumpy and challenging course and of course the external factors were not good for me with the long interruption and I knew that lots of people crashed," she said. "I had seen Marion getting treatment close by.

"You have to control yourself, not be distracted and get a handle on things but it wasn't easy and I didn't make it," she said.

Riesch never looked comfortable on the tough terrain and said she had hoped for a smoother surface.

"It was maybe the toughest (course) I ever raced, it's a one minute 50 run which is long but not too long but at the finish my legs were so bad, it's a tough one.

"Two years ago here it was so nice and smooth, I thought I would really be able to go for it," she said.

But Riesch said Vonn was a deserved winner.

"She is the best downhill skier of this season, no question she could win gold medal.

"The Americans are really good in big events, like last year. Sometimes they were really bad in the World Cup but then come the world championships and they are winning," she said.

(Editing by Ed Osmond)