Vonn defies pain to claim third consecutive victory

SKIING: LINDSEY Vonn, despite skiing with an injured hand, continued her clean sweep of World Cup downhills this season when she won her third in succession.

There had been doubts about the American world champion's form after she hurt her hand in a crash in Lienz two weeks ago but she set the record straight with a winning time of one minute 38.84 seconds.

"I really needed a race like this. After the hard days I've been through, victory was necessary," said Vonn, who has won five back-to-back super-Gs in the past, but never three downhills.

Second place went to Sweden's Anja Paerson, who finished 0.35 seconds off the pace for her first podium of the season. The 2004 and 2005 World Cup queen was just 0.04 seconds faster than Maria Riesch, whose third spot was not enough for the German to keep the overall World Cup lead.