The US’ Lindsay Vonn yesterday retained the women’s alpine skiing World Cup title at the season-ending finals.
Vonn wrapped up her season in some style as she won the downhill in 1 minute, 42.49 seconds to edge out Maria Riesch of Germany and Austria’s Renate Goetschl.
“My life could not be any better,” Vonn said. “I have a fantastic husband, two crystal globes, two downhill globes. I’m missing nothing.”
PHOTO: EPA
The trophies will be added to a collection that also includes two World Championship golds (downhill and Super-G) from last month, and two silvers from 2007.
German startlet Riesch did not bow out without a fight, taking second place, 0.40 seconds behind for her best result in a downhill this season, with Goetschl 1.26 second off the pace as Vonn moved an insuperable 389 points clear of Riesch in the standings with only three events remaining.
Vonn, 24, had already pocketed the downhill season honors at Bansko, Bulgaria, on Feb. 28.
Austrian Andrea Fischbacher, fifth here in the downhill, finished second in the downhill standings, with Riesch and Swiss skier Dominique Gisin tied in third on 292 points, Italian Nadia Fanchini in fifth on 276.
Vonn also became the most successful US female skier, beating Tamara McKinney’s record of 18 World Cup victories.
Even a freak injury at the world championships, when Vonn cut her thumb opening a bottle of champagne to celebrate her downhill title, could not stop her from crushing the opposition.
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