Hers is a classic what-might-have-been tale, and it ended in storybook fashion.
On the verge of stardom after 17 top-15 finishes on the World Cup circuit in 1990, Kristi Terzian saw her skiing career self-destruct because of a series of major knee injuries.In the final race of her career, she summoned up a victory in the women's slalom Sunday in the concluding event of the U.S. Alpine Ski Championships. And just for old time's sake, she re-injured her left knee in the process.
In the men's slalom, Canada's Thomas Grandi made it two in a row. He had won the giant slalom the day before.
Terzian held onto her first-run lead despite twisting her left knee about halfway through her second run.
After posting a two-run time of 1 minute, 20.99 seconds, the popular Terzian was mobbed by adoring teammates in the finish area.
"I felt everyone really pulling for me," said Terzian, 26, of Park City. "I was dreaming about this, that maybe things would work out for me today. I had absolutely nothing to lose. I went for it both runs 100 percent. I didn't care if I went out. It's easy when you can race that way."
Bracing herself on a ski pole, she said she may have damaged the anterior cruciate ligament.
"Believe me, I know how it feels," she said. "I felt it twist and pop about halfway down. Sometimes you're going on so much adrenaline that you don't feel the pain."
She was already scheduled to have arthroscopic surgery on her right knee in Vail on Monday. If she needs additional surgery, it might delay her enrollment this week at the University of Utah, where she will study - fittingly - physical therapy.
"Clearly, Kristi could have been one of the best in the world," said U.S. alpine director Paul Major. "But injuries are the nature of this sport."
"I've had a good career, I've had my ups and downs. But it's nice that I can retire winning another title. I'm happy," Terzian said.
Terzian, who held a first-run lead of 51-hundredths of a second over Katharina Tichy of the Czech Republic, battled her way to a winning margin of 10-hundredths over fast-closing Monique Pelletier of Hood River, Ore.
Melanie Turgeon, the 17-year-old junior sensation from Canada, was third in 1:21.46 and captured the women's combined title.
Canadians Eric Villiard and Stanley Hayer moved up to second and third, respectively, behind Grandi and Jeremy Nobis of Park City was fourth in 1:31.04 and clinched the men's combined title.