By USSA

HAFJELL, Norway – Sixteen-year-old Keely Cashman (Squaw Valley) grabbed 15th place Tuesday in the giant slalom at the Youth Olympic Winter Games.

The giant slalom podium featured Switzerland’s Melanie Meillard finishing first, with Germany’s Katrin Hirtl-Stanggassinger finishing second and Switzerland’s Aline Danioth rounding out the podium in third.

“Snow was bullet proof and it was an excellent race,” said women’s NTG head coach Thomas Erhard. “Great learning experience for her at a major Championship.”

One of the top skiers in the world in her age group, Cashman also finished 10th in the super G on Saturday. Onward and upward, Cashman will now look ahead to Thursday’s slalom.

On Monday, the athletes of the Youth Olympic Games received a visit from a very special guest, Youth Olympic Games Ambassador Lindsey Vonn (Vail). When the all-time winningest female alpine ski racer is not busy winning Audi FIS Ski World Cups – her win tally is now 76 – she enjoys spending time off the mountain helping to inspire and encourage the next generation of champions.

Vonn’s advice for athletes included everything from encouraging athletes to enjoy the entire Games experience to finding a hero to inspire them. Of course, she also advised athletes to get a dog, as Vonn just purchased her third puppy, a King Charles Cavalier named Lucy.

Modeled after the Olympic Games, the Youth Olympic Games debuted its winter event in 2012 at Innsbruck, Austria. Held every four years, the Youth Olympic Winter Games feature more than 1,100 athletes aged 15 to 18, from around the world.