Alpine skiing-Goggia triumphs in Cortina downhill, Vonn 20th

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CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (Reuters) – Italian Sofia Goggia continued to impress on her return from injury, winning the World Cup downhill at Cortina d’Ampezzo’s iconic Olympia delle Tofane course on Saturday, while American Lindsey Vonn finished down in 20th.

Goggia made a cautious start in perfect weather and piste conditions before powering through the third sector to finish 0.42 seconds ahead of Norway’s Kajsa Vickhoff Lie, with another Italian, Federica Brignone, completing the podium.

Last month, Goggia won the women’s super-G in Beaver Creek in only her second race since breaking her leg in February and, after failing to finish in St. Anton last weekend, the 32-year-old was back to her best in Cortina.

Goggia, fastest in Friday’s training session, knelt before the cheers and applause of the crowd at the finish line after her time of one minute and 33.95 seconds on the course which will host the Alpine skiing at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

“When I arrived at the finish line and looked for my position on the scoreboard, my heart was in my throat,” Goggia said.

“It wasn’t the perfect descent, I made a couple of mistakes here and there but I managed to stay focused.”

Vonn, who came out of retirement last November having retired in 2019 following a bruising 18-year career in which she suffered several injuries, trailed Goggia by 1.68 seconds after a mistake near the finish cost the 40-year-old a higher placing.

Brignone’s third place was enough to take the Italian to the top of the overall standings. Cortina also hosts a super-G on Sunday.

(Reporting by Trevor Stynes; editing by Clare Fallon)