Lindsey Vonn

In girls skiing Dominique Gisin from Switzerland and Sweden's Anja Pärson were joint winners at the women's World Cup downhill race in Altenmarkt-Zauchensee, Austria. Lindsey Vonn (above) came third 0.17 seconds behind, but was the overall winner by regaining top spot in rankings. Lindsey is originally from Minnesota, but now lives with her husband Thomas Vonn in Utah, and skiis mostly in Europe where she is immensely popular.



The first race of the weekend was the super-combined (one downhill run + one slalom run). On the very first run of the first race of the weekend, Vonn nearly crashed after overshooting the Hot Air Jump by about 30 feet. "I was a little bit nervous about that. I don't normally get that way," Vonn said. "I skied a little bit too cautiously going into the jump, that's why I didn't win."

Lindsey Vonn has persevered through several dangerous crashes, including one that occurred just before the 2006 Olympics. Still Vonn was able to make up time near the bottom of the course and set herself up for the win after posting the third fastest time on the slalom run. "The course for the slalom was a little bit chopped up so I knew I couldn't go in a straight line and I had to be a little bit cautious. But I kept fighting and it paid off." It was Vonn's third victory this season on the World Cup.

On Sunday, it was time for the downhill. By coming third Vonn added to her points from winning the super-combined vault her back on top of the overall standings, 11 points ahead of Maria Reisch. Lindsey Vonn competes in downhill, slalom, giant slalom, super giant slalom and combined; she is the most successful U.S. downhill skier -- male or female -- of all time. That is why Lindsey Vonn has so many sponsors from the corporate world. The girls now head to Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy for four races, including two downhills, beginning this Thursday.