Are: Vonn lands win and overall title

Not only did Lindsey Vonn make American history yet again in the World Cup Finals downhill in Are, Sweden, on Wednesday, but she did so with yet another victory.

In addition to winning more World Cup races than any woman in American history (this is her 21st victory), Vonn clinched the 2009 World Cup overall title, becoming the only American woman ever to take it two years straight. 

Vonn won the race in 1 minute, 42.49 seconds and the only racer to come close to her was her good friend and closest contender in the overall standings, Maria Riesch. Riesch, who was the only German competing in the downhill final, was .40 seconds behind Vonn, while Austrian veteran Renate Goetschl, once known as The Speed Queen, rounded out the podium, 1.26 seconds back.

Though she won the first downhill of the season last December in Lake Louise, Alberta, Vonn’s six other victories have been in slalom, super-G and super-combined. The win in Are is No. 8 this season. Though she already achieved it a couple weeks ago when her lead in the World Cup downhill standings became untouchable, Vonn was officially awarded the 2009 World Cup downhill globe on Wednesday, also for the second consecutive year. She finished with 502 DH points while Andrea Fischbacher ended up second in the standings with 326 and Riesch, whose only other downhill podium this season was a third in Lake Louise, was third with 292 points.Not only did Lindsey Vonn make American history yet again in the World Cup Finals downhill in Are, Sweden, on Wednesday, but she did so with yet another victory.

In addition to winning more World Cup races than any woman in American history (this is her 21st career victory), Vonn clinched the 2009 World Cup overall title, becoming the only American woman ever to take it two years straight. 

Vonn won the race in 1 minute, 42.49 seconds and the only racer to come close to her was her good friend and closest contender in the overall standings, Maria Riesch. Riesch, who was the only German competing in the downhill final, was .40 seconds behind Vonn, while Austrian veteran Renate Goetschl, once known as The Speed Queen, rounded out the podium, 1.26 seconds back.

In what’s become a familiar display, Vonn and Riesch hugged each other and laughed on the podium, clearly happy to be sharing it once again.

Though she won the first downhill of the season last December in Lake Louise, Alberta, Vonn’s six other victories have been in slalom, super-G and super-combined. The win in Are is No. 8 this season. Though she already achieved it a couple weeks ago when her lead in the World Cup downhill standings became untouchable, Vonn was officially awarded the 2009 World Cup downhill globe on Wednesday, also for the second consecutive year. She finished with 502 DH points while Andrea Fischbacher ended up second in the standings with 326 and Riesch, whose only other downhill podium this season was a third in Lake Louise, managed to make off with third and 292 points.

“It feels great,” Vonn said after the race. “I started out really strong in downhill, but since the beginning, I hadn’t won a downhill until today. Winning a second downhill title is huge. I’m really happy. i couldn’t ask for more.”

But there is more. With the Are victory, Vonn’s point total in the overall standings leaps to 1688, putting her far out of reach for second-place overall Cup contender Riesch, who has 1299 points.

“It’s amazing,” Vonn said. “It’s been a long season. It’s been really difficult and challenging. Winning the overall a second time is huge. It means a lot.”

Racers fought through fog, snow and flat light in Wednesday’s downhill, all crossing the finish line with red faces and some shaking out their hands.

There were no crashes, although Swiss racer Dominique Gisin, who previously was second to Vonn in the downhill standings and will finish the year with 291 DH points, didn’t start the race. She ended up on the DNF list in the single training run earlier this week, presumably due to a crash.

There were three large jumps throughout the Are course, which was also used for the men’s world championship downhill race in 2007. Some racers flailed over the rollers – even Vonn stood tall out of her tuck while in the air – but all landed on their feet.

Julia Mancuso was the only other American competing and finished 17th.

Though her plate is already full of success, Vonn is still hungry. She already has her eye on her next goal and the last of the season: securing the super-G title on Thursday. She is currently second in the SG standings with 361 points to Fabienne Suter’s 376.

“It’s great to win today but the super-G title is on the line tomorrow,” she said. “I’ll need all my energy for that.”

Watch the women’s World Cup super-G live on Thursday at 7:30 a.m. EST on universalsports.com.

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The SCOOP
By Hank McKee

Equipment
Women’s Downhill, Are, Sweden, March 11, 2009
Skier, skis/boots/bindings
1 Vonn, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
2 Riesch, Head/Lange/Tyrolia
3 Goetschl, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
4 Fanchini, Dynastar/Lange/Look
5 Fischbacher, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
6 Merighetti, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
7 Gut, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
8 Goergl, Head/Head/Head
9 VanderBeek, Volkl/Lange/Marker
10 Dettling, Stoeckli/Lange/Tyrolia

Women’s Downhill, Are, Sweden, March 11, 2009. … It is the eighth of eight downhills on the 2009 women’s World Cup schedule with one cancellation. … The 31st race of the season. … It is the first race of World Cup Finals. … It is the 70th World Cup race held at Are, the 15th downhill.

It is the 21st career World Cup win for Lindsey Vonn (most for a U.S. woman). … her 12th in downhill (a U.S. record) … her eighth World Cup win of the season (a U.S. record), not including two gold medals at World Championships. … She is the fifth American to record a win at Are, joining Kristina Koznick, Picabo Street, Phil Mahre and Bode Miller. … It is the 197th World Cup win by an American. … Vonn is third on the all-time list behind Miller (31) and Mahre (27).

It is the 27th career World Cup podium for Maria Riesch. … Her sixth in downhill. …It is her ninth podium of the season (10th including a gold medal in slalom at World Championships).

It is the 110th World Cup podium for Renate Goetschl. … Her first of the season. … She has 59 DH podium for her career.

Vonn’s lead for the World Cup overall title is 1688-1299 over Maria Riesch and she wins her second consecutive World Cup overall title. … She is the first U.S. woman to win twice. … She also pushes her margin in the downhill standings up to 502-326 over Andrea Fischbacher (fifth in race). … She had already claimed that title and matches Picabo Street’s U.S. record of two consecutive DH titles.

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Are, Sweden Women’s World Cup downhill results:

Rank	Bib	FIS Code	Name	Year	Nation	Total Time	FIS Points
1	18	537544	VONN Lindsey	1984	USA	1:42.49	0.00
2	22	206001	RIESCH Maria	1984	GER	1:42.89	5.15
3	13	55069	GOETSCHL Renate	1975	AUT	1:43.75	16.23
4	19	296729	FANCHINI Nadia	1986	ITA	1:44.20	22.02
5	17	55750	FISCHBACHER Andrea	1985	AUT	1:44.27	22.93
6	14	296008	MERIGHETTI Daniela	1981	ITA	1:44.30	23.31
7	11	516138	GUT Lara	1991	SUI	1:44.37	24.21
8	10	55576	GOERGL Elisabeth	1981	AUT	1:44.39	24.47
9	6	106402	VANDERBEEK Kelly	1983	CAN	1:44.51	26.02
10	3	515849	DETTLING Andrea	1987	SUI	1:44.56	26.66
11	8	196460	MARCHAND-ARVIER Marie	1985	FRA	1:44.59	27.05
12	23	55947	FENNINGER Anna	1989	AUT	1:44.69	28.33
13	1	515560	SCHILD Martina	1981	SUI	1:44.70	28.46
14	15	105997	BRYDON Emily	1980	CAN	1:44.71	28.59
15	16	565243	MAZE Tina	1983	SLO	1:44.80	29.75
16	20	505483	PAERSON Anja	1981	SWE	1:44.87	30.65
17	5	537545	MANCUSO Julia	1984	USA	1:45.03	32.71
18	2	515573	AUFDENBLATTEN Fraenzi	1981	SUI	1:45.13	34.00
19	24	515170	STYGER Nadia	1978	SUI	1:45.40	37.48
20	9	515766	SUTER Fabienne	1985	SUI	1:45.61	40.18
21	4	296473	SIORPAES Wendy	1985	ITA	1:45.69	41.21
22	7	195983	ROLLAND Marion	1982	FRA	1:45.79	42.50
23	12	196573	REVILLET Aurelie	1986	FRA	1:45.97	44.82
24	25	197006	GAUTHIER Marine	1990	FRA	1:46.81	55.64
Did not start 1st run
	21	515747	GISIN Dominique	1985	SUI