Julia Mancuso done skiing at Sochi Games but could return for 2018 Olympics

KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia – Julia Mancuso's Sochi Olympics concluded with Tuesday's giant slalom, but the United States may get one more Games out of her.

The U.S. Alpine team's most decorated woman, Mancuso will turn 30 next month. And while the four-time medalist knows she's entering the stage of her career when most skiers wind down, she still sees a window of opportunity.

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"Being here and kind of coming back from not a great season kind of put things in perspective for me about what skiing is about," said Mancuso, who leaves with a bronze medal in super-combined. "Coming into these Olympics, I really wanted a medal and I got a bronze. I for sure still want gold, and I think if I can continue skiing well, especially on the speed side, and get to a place where I can still be fighting for gold medals…"

Mancuso didn't complete the thought, but the implication was clear: If she thinks she's still competitive when the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, roll around, she envisions suiting up again for the U.S. That could give the Americans a formidable and experienced team, with Lindsey Vonn vowing to come back stronger from her knee injury and make a run for 2018 at the age of 33, and young phenom Mikaela Shiffrin potentially entering her prime at the age of 22.

That said, four years can be a lifetime in Alpine skiing. And many skiers see a precipitous drop in their performance in their early 30s. But Mancuso watched Bode Miller win a bronze in these Games at 36, so it seems more possible now than ever.

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"At the beginning of the season, I felt like there was no way I'd come back," Mancuso said. "But after coming here and kind of having that magical day, it makes me want to keep going. Watching Bode win another medal and have killer downhill training runs and be so close to that inspired me.

"Who says what's a good age? You just gotta go for it, and I love to ski, so we'll see."

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