(Newser)
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Today is the biggest day yet for American contenders at Vancouver 2010 and headliners hope to boost the country's already impressive medal haul. Speedskater Shani Davis is aiming for gold in the 1,000 meters and snowboarder Shaun White will compete in the halfpipe. Lindsey Vonn is skiiing in the downhill, and short track skater Apolo Anton Ohno, who claimed a silver medal Saturday, races in preliminary short track heats.
Vonn, who has an injured shin, has yet to compete because adverse weather delayed some Alpine events. Today's race is her top event. "I've given up a lot in my life and my career to be here," she tells the AP. "I hope it all pays off." Even if today goes badly for America's stars, the United States, with eight medals so far, has already surpassed the six medals it won at Calgary 1988.
