ARE, Sweden, March 11 (UPI) -- U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn won the downhill Wednesday at the Audi FIA World Cup Finals in Sweden, locking up her second consecutive overall championship.
Vonn had a total time of 1 minute, 42.49 seconds and finished 0.4 seconds ahead of German Maria Riesch. Renate Goetschl was third
Vonn's victory was the 21st in her career and made her the first U.S. women's skier to win two overall titles.
"It's a really special moment in my life. 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," Vonn said. "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."
Riesch is second in the downhill standings but trails Vonn, who has eight firsts this season, by 389 points, a difference too large for Riesch to make up in the three races remaining on the schedule.
Vonn is also in the running for the overall title in the Super-G. She is 15 points behind Swiss Fabienne Suter in those standings. The Audi FIA World Cup Finals Super-G is to be skied Thursday.
