Lindsey Vonn Sets New Women's Records with 2015 World Cup Downhill Victory

Lindsey Vonn has tied a record in winning her 18th and 19th crystal globe in the 2015 World Cup. 

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Vonn Ties Stenmark Record With 19th Globe

Thursday, March 19

A day after winning her 18th globe, Vonn tied Ingemar Stenmark's record by winning her 19th crystal globe in the Super G at the 2015 World Cup, according to Nick Zaccardi of Olympic Talk:

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Vonn needed to beat Austrian Anna Fenninger to take the crystal globe trophy, and she did so by .49 of a second after Fenninger had previously taken the lead by .71.

Before both of their runs, Vonn was shown on camera among a group of people watching a TV screen as Fenninger stepped to the start gate. Vonn took her run eight minutes after the Austrian.

“[Fenninger] definitely put a lot of pressure on me,” Vonn, who also bagged the downhill title Wednesday, said in a finish-area interview. “I knew she was leading when I was at the top. … I just attacked, and I had nothing to lose.”

Vonn crossed the finish line after one minute of all-out skiing, saw she had overtaken Fenninger, raised her arms, screamed, slid to a stop and fell to the snow, smiling in celebration.

Fenninger, in the leader’s box, clapped politely.

Vonn notched her eighth victory of the season and joined Swedish legend Ingemar Stenmark as the only skiers to reach 19 season titles across all disciplines and the overall. She won’t be able to go for No. 20 until next season but is expected to race again in Meribel, in the giant slalom Sunday.

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Vonn Wins 18th Globe

Wednesday, March 18

Lindsey Vonn set two women's records Wednesday when she claimed her seventh downhill championship at the 2015 World Cup and, in doing so, her 18th crystal globe.

Yahoo News captured an image of Vonn holding her trophy:

Following the race, Vonn posted a statement on Instagram:

AFP's Luke Phillips (via Yahoo Sports) noted "the 30-year-old American, herself a former four-time overall champion, laid down a near-perfect descent of the 2.6km-long Roc de Fer piste, clocking 1min 29.87sec to win the 18th globe of her glittering career."  

Fellow skier Mikaela Shiffrin was quick to weigh in on Vonn's victory:

Overall, Vonn's feat is remarkable considering last year she was forced to miss the Olympics in Sochi due to reaggravating her knee.

"It's incredible after being out with two knee operations. It is just amazing to be sitting where I am today," Vonn said, courtesy of The Associated Press (via ESPN.com). "I'm so proud and happy, and I really have to thank the people that supported me and got me back to where I am now."

It wasn't until December that Vonn returned to the podium, nearly two years since her previous appearance, and she has been extremely impressive over the past three months. She doesn't plan to stop winning and has her sights set on tomorrow's event.

"Vonn will have the chance to equal Swedish legend Ingemar Stenmark's record of 19 crystal globes during Thursday's super-G, in which she stands just eight points ahead of Fenninger," relayed Phillips, who also provided a statement from Vonn discussing tomorrow's race:

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"I actually built a new trophy case, it has room for 23 globes, so hopefully I have a few more successful years," joked Vonn.

"Tomorrow's super-G is another chance for another globe and it's going to be tough. Anna's skiing really well, it's going to be soft conditions like it was today. But there's something about this track that really suits me.

"I'm going to give it everything I have, just like I do every day, and hopefully come out on top again."

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Vonn remains one of the more polarizing figures in all of sports. Her determination is admirable, but it is her sheer skills that leaves fans in awe. Skiing doesn't receive its due share from the majority of sports fans, but skiers of Vonn's caliber prove it's an event to behold. Vonn continues to dominate at an impressive rate, and putting her stamp on the sport with two records is an achievement sports fans should take the time to celebrate. 

“I don’t know what the future is; I’m just going to keep trying to win as many races as I can,” said Vonn, who won six successive downhill titles from 2008 to 2013, per Bill Pennington of the New York Times. “I’m trying to win as many globes as I can. I’m just going to keep going.”