The China Mail - Vonn takes first comeback podium as Gut-Behrami wins World Cup super-G title

Reigning Olympic super-G champion Gut-Behrami of Switzerland took the victory in 1:12.35 with 40-year-old American Vonn second in 1:13.64 in what she has said might be her final career race on US snow.

"I usually do better when the pressure is higher," Vonn said. "It was the last race of the season and I put it all on the line. This is the level I know I can ski -- and I know I can even do better than that.

"It has been a rough season with people saying that I can't, I'm too old and I'm not good enough anymore.

"I think I proved everyone wrong."

Italy's Federica Brignone, who led the super-G season standings by five points over Gut-Behrami entering the World Cup finals, was third in 1:13.68.

Gut-Behrami also took season crowns in super-G in 2014, 2016, 2021, 2023 and 2024.

But Vonn stole the show by taking her 138th career podium, the first in a World Cup race since 2018 although she placed third in the downhill at the 2019 World Championships.

"I really wanted to do well at home," Vonn said. "It has been very rare in my career that I've been able to ski a speed event on home soil.

"The snow is just like home in Vail for me. I felt really comfortable on it. It was a good course set. I knew I had to just charge and I saw that Lauren (Macuga) went out and I said, 'Well, I'm the only American left so I better show up for my country'."

Vonn was shocked when she glanced at the timing after crossing the finish line, thinking she placed far worse than she did.

"At first I thought I was 12th and I thought, 'Oh man not again,' Vonn said. "Then I saw a 2 and I was like -- it has been a long road. I'm doing this because I love it but that doesn't mean it has been easy. It has been hard. This year has really been up and down and it has been hard to stay positive sometimes because some people are telling me I should just quit again.

"But today, it meant everything to me. This is the road to Cortina (Olympics) next year and it has begun and I'm positive, I'm happy."

Making a podium breakthrough for the first time since putting away the skis encouraged Vonn for the Olympics and the future in general.

"This is what you work hard for," she said. "This is what you dream about. I ski because I love it but doing well also helps."

- Gut-Behrami takes globe -

Gut-Behrami, the 10th starter in the field of 22, grabbed the lead in 1:12.35.

Brignone, who started 14th, was 0.06 of a second ahead of Gut-Behrami at the first interval in 19.13 seconds, but fell off the pace.

Vonn started three spots later and closed her gap near the bottom of the layout to charge her way onto the podium.

Brignone won the alpine skiing World Cup overall title for the second time on Saturday when the season-ending downhills were called off due to snow and wind.

The 34-year-old Italian, who also won the 2020 overall World Cup crown, also claimed the downhill globe for the first time in her career.

Brignone, who won the giant slalom world title in February, has already clinched the giant slalom World Cup globe.

Last season, Brignone finished second in the overall, slalom and giant slalom standings.

N.Wan--ThChM