German skier Maria Riesch head and shoulders above competition at Olympic Games

German alpine skier Maria Riesch is used to being head and shoulders above the rest of the field.

Standing close to six feet, without her ski boots, Riesch is one of the tallest women on the World Cup circuit. Come the 2010 Winter Olympics she hopes to dwarf her competition on the slopes at Whistler, B.C.

Entering this season the native of Garmisch-Partenkirchen had 28 top-three finishes, including 11 wins. Riesch, who won the slalom gold medal at last winter's world ski championships in Val d'Isere, France, finished second to close friend Lindsey Vonn of the U.S. in the overall World Cup standings in 2009 and was third in 2008. She is the defending World Cup super-combined champion.

Riesch already has tasted success on the Olympic course. She won the super-combined race at Whistler in February of 2008, which was an Olympic test event.

"I was a little lucky, but you need some luck sometimes," the affable Riesch said at the time. "I am really looking forward to the Olympics here."

Riesch has also been on the podium three times in World Cup races at Lake Louise, Alta. She won the downhill race in 2006, was second in a super-giant slalom in 2007 and was third in a downhill in 2008.

Her 2006 victory came in just her fourth race after battling back from two career-threatening knee injuries. Riesch ruptured the cruciate ligament in her right knee Jan. 10, 2005, then almost 11 months later tore up the same ligament in her left knee on Dec. 10, 2005.

Riesch admitted returning to racing wasn't easy and she worried about being frightened in the starting gate.

Riesch also likes speed off the snow. At one time she owned a Audi R8, an eight-cylinder, 420-horsepower car capable of reaching 270 kilometres an hour.

While Vonn and Riesch are competitors on the hill, they are close once the skis come off. Vonn often spends Christmas in Germany with Riesch's family.

Riesch first burst onto the scene as a young racer. She won seven medals in all of the disciplines at the world junior championships.

Riesch is also a nationally-ranked tennis player and a cyclist.

Her fast skis, combined with good looks, have also made Riesch a media darling. She is the poster girl for Lange ski boots. There is a sultry photo of Riesch showing lots of leg, while wearing a pair of boots, a long coat and bikini top.