Lindsey Vonn claims fourth World Cup win

American Lindsey Vonn secures another victory at the Alpine Ski Women’s World Cup to stretch her overall points lead.

Lindsey Vonn
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Vonn takes to the podium after winning the women’s Super G on the Birds of Prey at the World Cup [GALLO/GETTY] 

American Lindsey Vonn won her fourth Alpine Ski Women’s World Cup race in a row on Wednesday, capturing a
rescheduled Super-G event after sweeping three races last weekend in Canada.

Vonn conquered the 1,940-meter Birds of Prey run in 1min 10.68secs to defeat Swiss Fabienne Suter by .37 of a second for her fourth triumph in six days to stretch her overall World Cup points lead with her 46th career triumph.

“I still really can’t believe that I won,” Vonn said.

“It’s amazing.”

Austrian Anna Fenninger, who was just behind Vonn on the course, finished third in 1:11.09.

US alpine speed queen Vonn has won all four races since announcing she is to divorce her husband and coach, Thomas Vonn, after four years of marriage.

Vonn won two downhills and the season Super-G opener last week at Lake Louise and added a home-snow victory in a race that was moved onto the schedule in place of one at Val D’Isere, France, that was called off for lack of snow.

Home-sweet-home

What made this victory special is that it came on her hometown course.

Vonn, a native of nearby Vail, would not usually compete at Beaver Creek but the race was moved to join two men’s make-up races at last week’s men’s World Cup venue.

“I was so nervous. I had so much pressure. I really wanted to win this,” Vonn said.

“I love pushing myself and every day is a new challenge. Today was one of the bigger challenges of my life, trying to win at home.

“I was so nervous. I had so much pressure. I really wanted to win this”

American Lindsey Vonn

“To have my first race in my hometown and to get the win is more than I could have expected.”

Leaving the start gate 17th, Vonn was a quarter-second behind Suter’s pace at the first interval but moved ahead by .15 midway down the piste. She fell off the pace again near the bottom but finished strong for the victory.

“It was really difficult,” Vonn said.

“I almost went out on the course five times.

“I was pushing it. I was trying as hard as I could to keep it together to the finish.”

Vonn, 27, boosted her World Cup overall point total to 522, 236 ahead of second place Viktoria Rebensburg of Germany, and pushed her lead in the Super-G to 200-140 over Fenninger.

Overall this season, Vonn has five triumphs, also counting her victory at the giant slalom opener in October at Soelden, Austria, that made her only the fifth woman to win all five Alpine ski disciplines in World Cup competition.

Source: AFP