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Lindsey Vonn capped an impressive season by retaining the overall World Cup title with victory in the final downhill in Are, Sweden.

In the Swedish fog the 24-year-old American bagged her eighth World Cup race of the season and the of her career in one minute 42.49 seconds.

Her friend and title rival Maria Riesch of Germany did not bow out without a fight, taking second place, four tenths behind for her best result in a downhill this season.

Third place went to veteran Austrian Renate Goetschl, who made the 60th downhill podium of her 16 year-career, 1.26 behind Vonn.

Vonn has 1688 points and an unassailable lead of 389 points over Riesch in the overall standings with three events to go - and Janica Kostelic's 2006 record of 1970 points is in reach.

"It's definitely a great satisfaction to end the season on another downhill win. I'm really pleased to have been able to clinch my second overall title in such a perfect way," said Vonn.

"In past years, I didn't manage to end the season on such a high note. It's my eighth victory this winter and I'm aiming at another one tomorrow in the super-G.

"I still have a chance to clinch the world title in the discipline too," added Vonn, who is second in the super-G standings, 15 points behind Swiss Fabienne Suter with one race left.

Vonn added the overall title to the downhill crystal globe and two gold medals at last month's world championships.

She also became the most successful American female skier beating Tamara McKinney's record of 18 World Cup victories.

This winter, the American displayed a wider range to her talents winning two slaloms, a discipline in which she had struggled in the past.

In downhills, she was her usual impressive self, winning two and finishing on the podium in six of the seven races held in skiing's showcase discipline.

Even a freak injury at the world championships, when Vonn cut her thumb opening a bottle of champagne to celebrate her downhill title, could not stop her from crushing the opposition.

Riesch earned the consolation of winning the slalom world title in Val d'Isere and the slalom World Cup.

"I really enjoyed skiing fast today. It's a promising result looking ahead to next season," she said.

"Lindsey has been amazing this winter, she was clearly the best of us with wins in four disciplines, but I hope to be able to seriously challenge her in the future," Riesch added.

Reuters