BEAVER CREEK, Colo. (AP) — Tina Maze of Slovenia has captured the women’s downhill gold medal at the world championships Friday ahead of prerace favorite Lindsey Vonn, who struggled on her home course.
Maze finished the twisty course in 1 minute, 45.89 seconds to beat Anna Fenninger of Austria by 0.02 seconds. Lara Gut of Switzerland earned bronze.
This result was the reverse of the super-G race, when Fenninger won and Maze was runner-up. Maze has a chance to medal in every event at worlds.
Vonn got off to a fast start in the gliding portion, to the delight of the capacity crowd. But she faded in the curvy middle section and wound up fifth. Vonn leads the World Cup downhill standings this season.
Marion Rolland of France didn’t get a chance to defend her downhill crown at worlds after tearing the ACL in her right knee in a mid-January crash during a super-G.
