Vonn Locks Overall Title with Win
GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany - She did it again! Olympic Champion Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) locked in yet another accolade this season as she clinched her third straight Audi FIS World Cup Overall title with a stunning super G victory Friday.
Vonn's title came just an hour before her U.S. Ski Team teammate Ted Ligety (Park City, UT) clinched his second GS crystal globe in three years.
"It's so important to me [to win the overall]. The overall title is one of the biggest things you can win in our sport. I always try to give my best every day, but it's a long season," said Vonn, who had already clinched the super G title prior to the Olympics. "The last few years have gone really well for me. It's so hard to say whether you'll be able to win the overall title. To stand here in the finish and have a title in my hand is so rewarding."
Vonn's super G victory marked her 33rd career win, breaking the record of 32 wins previously held by Bode Miller (Franconia, NH). Additionally, it was the 11th win of Vonn's season, breaking her own mark of nine.
"I was so nervous because the overall title was on the line. To win the last race of the season and to break the U.S. record of 32 U.S. wins - I'm so happy. I'm ecstatic," Vonn said. "It's been an amazing season - and definitely a long season - but I'm so happy that I was able to ski well today and come through. Having the overall title is so rewarding and I am so happy."
Vonn had placed her name on the overall globe before her skis even left the start house on Friday. In order to take home the globe friend and competitor Maria Riesch of Germany would have needed to finish first or second in the race. But as Vonn readied herself to ski, Riesch was bumped to third by Swiss Nadia Styger, skiing three spots of the American. But that didn't stop Vonn from wanting to pull in another win for 2010.
"I knew what place Maria was in, so I knew the World Cup overall was already secured. But I still wanted to go out there and have a good end to the season," Vonn said. "I'm just really happy I had a good run and was able to end the season well."
According to Vonn, having a course set that was familiar on a race day plagued with tricky snow was a key factor in her win.
"Our coach Alex Hoedlmoser set the course and I definitely think he set it to our strengths as a team. The snow conditions weren't holding up as well as I would have liked and I was the last person to start, so I knew exactly what was going on," Vonn said.
In the end, Vonn was happy to accomplish so much this year, and said it did not come without the help of many.
"It means the world to me. If you had asked me at the beginning of the season if I'd have been able to do that, I would have said 'not likely.' It takes a lot of hard work, not only by me, but from the team, from U.S. Ski Team coaches, from my husband, from Red Bull and my ski company Head," Vonn said. "It's everyone working together to make as successful a season as possible and I couldn't do it without them."
On the eve of another season's end, Vonn also reflected on the success of her team and what they have to look forward to.
"I am really happy with the season as a whole for our entire team. We've had some amazing successes," Vonn said. "The U.S. is definitely a major force on the World Cup and in the Olympics and I'm really looking forward to next season and the World Championships back here in Garmisch."
Racing alongside Vonn for the U.S. on Friday was double silver medalist Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley, CA) who went out while putting down a sensational run, charging and tucking through bumby corners always looking for speed.
"I just had to go for it. I knew that to win today I had to be fast. I just went a little bit too straight and crashed," Mancuso said.
With the super G out of the way, the U.S. Ski Team has only the slalom to race in on Saturday to wrap things up for 2010 with Sarah Schleper (Vail, CO) as the only U.S woman in the gate. After a season of numerous injuries and the World Cup overall title safely secure, Vonn will not start.
