Sublime Vonn wraps up third overall World Cup title in style

LINDSEY Vonn put the finishing touches to her third overall World Cup title in scintillating style with a breath-taking super-G victory in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

CLASSY WIN: USA's Lindsey Vonn seals her third overall World Cup title with an emphatic super G win in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Getty Images)

Vonn has been in irresistible super-G form this season and had long since wrapped up that title, along with the downhill crown but a crash in Thursday's giant slalom race threw her participation on Friday into doubt.

The American arrived in Garmisch on the brink of her third straight overall crystal globe but best friend and double Olympic champion Maria Riesch of Germany has been piling on the pressure on home soil.

Riesch defeated Vonn in the downhill to keep her slender hopes of catching the American alive and after Vonn crashed out on Thursday, the lead was cut to 165 points with two races remaining.

But Vonn blitzed her way home in 1:19.30 minutes for her fourth super-G victory of the seven races this season, pushing Austria's Elisabeth Goergl into second and Switzerland's Nadia Styger into third.

Vonn was last to go out of the start gate and with Riesch lying third she knew she could afford to take her foot off the pedal to wrap up the overall title but the thought never crossed her mind as she romped to her 33rd World Cup victory of her career.

"I was last to go today so I knew what I had to do but I was desperate to get the win," said Vonn, who scooped Olympic downhill gold in Vancouver last month.

"My knees really hurt after my crash and I wasn't sure if I would make it but it's a great end to a fantastic season.

"I'm glad it's over but it's been such a good season. It's so rewarding to be standing here with the crystal globe and I've achieved so much this season.

"Breaking the American record for the most World Cup season was fantastic - the whole year has just gone so well for me."