MERIBEL, France (March 22, 2015) - Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) capped her comeback season finishing fifth in the final giant slalom to take third in the World Cup overall. The back-and-forth battle for the overall title came down to the very last run of the season as Anna Fenninger of Austria re-took the lead with a dramatic win over Tina Maze, who had vaulted back into the lead just 24 hours earlier.
Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, CO), who had won the slalom title with a win on Saturday, finished seventh today and was third in the GS standings.
After a week of tourist bureau weather, rain, snow and fog took over Saturday night and into the racing Sunday. A heavy fog band hampered vision through the mid-section of the course.
The finish was significant for Vonn, her first GS World Cup points since winning in Maribor a week before her tragic February, 2013 accident in the World Championships at Schladming, Austria. It also boosted her into a podium spot for the overall globe, finishing just ahead of Shiffrin in third.
"My goal today wasn’t about the overall, just to get points for next year to get a better starting number," said Vonn. "I’m really happy with my skiing and it was a good way to end the season. It’s so fun! It’s so nice to be healthy and to be able to risk everything in every race I enter."
It also marked a strong season for Shiffrin in giant slalom, moving up from seventh a year ago to finish third - capped by a season-opening win (tying with Anna Fenninger) in Soelden, Austria.
Action now shifts back to America for the Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships at Sugarloaf, ME, with both Vonn and Shiffrin expected to race.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Lindsey Vonn was fifth, Mikaela Shiffrin seventh in the final race of the Audi FIS Ski World Cup season.
- Austria's Anna Fenninger took the overall title over Tina Maze with Vonn third and Shiffrin fourth. Shiffrin was also third in the season GS standings.
- The race will be broadcast on the Universal Sports Network at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Sunday.
QUOTES
Lindsey Vonn
My goal today wasn’t about the overall, just to get points for next year to get a better starting number. I’m really happy with my skiing and it was a good way to end the season.
My goal next year is to be top five in as many races as I can in giant slalom and to be more consistent in downhill and super G. I won a lot of races but I was also tenth and seventh and those results aren’t very good.
It’s so fun! It’s so nice to be healthy and to be able to risk everything in every race I enter.
RESULTS
Women's Giant Slalom
Final Women's Overall FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Standings
Final Women's Giant Slalom FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Standings
