Lindsey Vonn captures downhill title, overall World Cup title

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American Lindsey Vonn today ignored the Swedish fog to win the final downhill race of the season and clinch the overall World Cup title for the second year in a row.

The 24-year-old Vonn is the first American woman to win two overall World Cup crowns, and she did it in fine fashion, speeding down the course in Are, Sweden, in 1 minute, 42.49 seconds to capture her eighth downhill race of the season and her second downhill title.

Only one other American, Picabo Street, has won consecutive downhill titles. Street accomplished that in 1995 and 1996.

Vonn won the season-opening downhill in early December at Lake Louise in Alberta, Canada.

‘It’s a really special moment in my life,’ she told reporters afterward. ‘I give my whole life for the sport and to be able to win something like this for a second time in a row, it means a lot to me. It’s why I work hard, it’s what I live for and it’s special to have been able to put my own mark in the history books.’

Maria Riesch of Germany finished 0.40 behind Vonn, and also finished second overall. Austria’s Renate Goetschl was third, 1.26 back.

LAT’s Helene Elliott will have more on Vonn later today on latimes.com/sports.

-- Debbie Goffa

Top photo: Lindsey Vonn on her way to winning the Women’s World Cup Downhill title in Are, Sweden. Credit: Elvis Piazzi / Associated Press

Inset photo: Vonn poses with the World Cup trophy. Credit: Wolfgang Grebien / GEPA via US Presswire