More history for Vonn after her latest victory

Lindsey Vonn is thrilled to be making more U.S. ski history.

But Vonn also has enough sense of her sport’s history not to be carried away by her achievements.

Vonn won her 10th World Cup downhill Saturday in Crans Montana, Switzerland, breaking the U.S. record for career downhill victories she had shared with Picabo Street and Daron Rahlves.

The woman who finished second Saturday, Renate Goetschl of Austria, has 24 downhill wins, second on the all-time list to compatriot Annemarie Moser-Proell’s 36.

Vonn, 23, is now eighth on that list, with a good chance -- barring an injury like the one that ended her 2007 season prematurely -- to move up quickly. Everyone ahead of Vonn except Goetschl is no longer competing, and she is only seven wins behind No. 3, Michela Figini of Switzerland.

“Making some American history is exciting, but you get a different perspective when you look at Goetschl with 24 wins,” Vonn said in a phone interview. “Today is a great step for me to start moving toward the records set by the Europeans.”

Vonn’s fifth downhill win of the season also brought her a step closer to being the first U.S. skier since Tamara McKinney to win the World Cup overall season title. With five races left, Vonn has a 150-point lead over defending champion Nicole Hosp of Austria.

Her goal is to clinch the title before the last two events, a giant slalom and slalom, in which Hosp is the stronger skier.

Vonn already has won the season title in downhill. Today, she has a chance to add another discipline title, in super combined, although she currently trails close friend Maria Riesch of Germany by 40 points.

(World Cup races award 100 points for first, 80 for second and 60 for third, going down to one point for 30th.)

“This season has been unbelievable,” Vonn said. “I’m really happy and really honored to pass Daron and Picabo.”

It could have a tremendous ending for the U.S. ski team at this week’s World Cup finals in Bormio, Italy.

Bode Miller’s 11th place in the giant slalom -- won by Ted Ligety of Park City, Utah -- allowed him to keep most of his lead in the World Cup overall standings. He is 165 points ahead of Switzerland’s Didier Cuche.

Ligety’s victory put him atop the giant slalom standings with one race left. Miller has a shot at the downhill season title, and he already has won the combined.

It’s looking to be the best World Cup season in U.S. history.

--

Philip Hersh covers Olympic sports for The Times and the Chicago Tribune.