Lindsey Vonn falls on podium at Super-G World Cup

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy — Lindsey Vonn made her 40-year-old return to skiing when she fell while fighting for a top-five finish in the World Cup super-G on Sunday. Second fall in four days during competition.

Once again, the Americans walked away unscathed.

Vonn fell to the ground while rounding a gate in the middle of the course at next year's Milan-Cortina Olympic ski resort. She then slid down the runway and came to a stop well away from the safety net.

Vonn quickly stood up and skated across the finish line, waving to the crowd.

“I was a little behind on the course and trying to finish it,” Vaughn said. “My skis clattered together and I lost my balance.”

Vonn avoided injury after crashing during downhill training on Thursday.

Homegrown skier Federica Brignone beat Swiss Olympic champions Lara Gut-Behrami and Corinne Suter to win the Super G Slalom racing.

Vonn, who has 12 wins at Cortina, returned to racing last month with new titanium knees after nearly six years in retirement.

Vonn told The Associated Press on Thursday that she plans to retire again after next year's Olympics, when the women's ski race will be held in Cortina and the men's ski race in Bormio.

Last weekend in St. Anton, Austria, Vonn finished sixth in the downhill and fourth in the super-G.

In Saturday's downhill race in Cortina, she made a mistake near the end of the race and finished 20th.

In her most recent race, Vonn passed the second of three checkpoints before losing control and was fifth fastest. All told, she was one of 10 skiers who failed to complete both the flat and overcast conditions.

“I ski very well,” she said. “Overall, the weekend was very positive, but I couldn't quite put it together. It's going to take a little time. Last weekend went well and everyone's expectations were really high. But it's a journey that no one has been on before. So I Trying to be patient.

“I need more training, I need more time. I think it's actually a good thing that I didn't perform well this weekend because it makes me really hungry for more and hopefully get more next year,” Waugh said Eun added.

This is Warne's 400th World Cup game.

“It means I've been here a long time,” said Vonn, who made her World Cup debut nearly 25 years ago in November 2000.

Renate Goetschl holds the women's record with 409 games.

“I should have hit that one,” Vaughn said. “Another record. Yay!”

Vonn plans to race again next weekend in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, before competing at next month's world championships in Saalbach-Hintergram, Austria.