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Vonn wins World Cup Super-G race in Switzerland

Graham Dunbar
Associated Press
Vail, CO Colorado
Lindsey Vonn, right, of the United States, shouts in celebration after winning an alpine ski, women's World Cup super-G, in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Saturday, Dec .8, 2012. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
AP | AP

ST. MORITZ, Switzerland – Lindsey Vonn skied to victory in a World Cup Super-G on Saturday, and American teammate Julia Mancuso was third.

Vonn extended her perfect record in four speed races this season, timing 1 minute, 2.71 seconds to beat World Cup overall leader Tina Maze by 0.37 seconds. Mancuso was 1.01 behind Vonn.

Maze’s victory in the super-combined Friday put some pressure on Vonn, who was hospitalized last month with intestinal issues and allowed a gap to develop in the standings. Vonn scored 100 points in the victory to trail Maze by 167 in third place.



“I’m struggling with my strength,” Vonn said. “I came down with everything I have.”

Vonn’s 57th career World Cup win, the second-most in history, was her 20th in Super-G. She is the four-time defending champion in the season-long discipline title.

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Vonn’s celebration after crossing the finish line after the race provoked some debate.

The 28-year-old American acknowledged she used a curse word in a release of emotion in taking the lead – but had not directed it at Maze, as her coaches had alleged.

“They think I said something very bad about her when I came to the finish and that is absolutely not true,” Vonn said. “I swore and I shouldn’t have done that.”

Vonn spoke after seeking out Maze, and said she had told her: “I hope you trust me enough to believe me.”

“Apparently they don’t. It definitely hurts,” said Vonn, who said she had been disappointed after failing to finish Friday in the super-combined won by Maze.

She swept the three-race downhill and Super-G program last weekend at Lake Louise, Alberta, and Vonn and Maze have combined to win seven of the nine World Cup events.

“Tina has had an amazing season so far. It’s going to be a tough season,” said Vonn, who has won the overall title in four of the past five seasons.

Earlier, Maze said the defending champion was “tough, but not impossible” to beat.

“I wanted to win, but Lindsey was better. It was fun to ski today,” she said.

Maze has a 163-point lead overall from 2011 champion Maria Hoefl-Riesch of Germany, who placed fifth Saturday.

Maze will be favored to add to her advantage Sunday in a giant slalom, which has traditionally been a weaker event for Vonn.

Skiers raced Saturday on a shortened course after a forecast of strong wind up the mountain.


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