Is it modesty that Lindsey Vonn was satisfied with a bronze medal? Or was there again the unshakeable confidence of the superstar with whom Vonn explains her great career? "I'm not surprised about the medal," said Vonn after the race. "That's my mentality, I always give everything, that's why I won so much, that's why I had so many crashes."

She was still down in Super-G last Tuesday, but that should not be the end for Vonn: "I definitely did not want to end up in the last race in the safety fence, I wanted to retire successfully."

Vonn, who had not made it to top shape after many injuries this season, was the third starter in the downhill and it was clear that she had once again caught a strong run in time for the most important race of the season. One favorite after the other landed behind Vonn - which was also favored by the fact that the sun disappeared behind the clouds. Only Ilka Stuhec (Slovenia) and the Swiss Corinne Suter pushed ahead of the American - Vonn won bronze in her eighth World Cup medal.

The well wishers are queuing up

Even before the race, the 34-year-old had announced that she would enjoy her last big day as an athlete. And that's exactly what she did when she crossed the finish line. Without knowing what their run would be worth in the end, Vonn thanked for the audience's ovation. The then leading Viktoria Rebensburg came running in the finish area and paid tribute to the 82-times World Cup winner with a bow.

When such a career ends with this bang, the well-wishers are queuing up. And so Vonn took innumerable congratulations after the finish line of the last starter. From friends, from the family, from their dog, from officials and their rivals. "Since the announcement of my resignation, I have received a lot of respect from my colleagues," said Vonn. "Because they know how hard it is to come back after so many injuries, that's the best thing that's happened in the last few weeks."

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End of career by Lindsey Vonn: Between victory and pain

Even Swedish ski legend Ingemar Stenmark had traveled to Åre at Von's request and congratulated the woman, who has not broken his record of 86 World Cup victories. "He is a man of few words, but he is so kind and so polite," Vonn said. "I am proud that he is here."

"Speed ​​Queen forever"

In their last competition a little luck was added. An hour before the start, the jury had decided not to start from the scheduled departure but because of the windy conditions, but further down the slope into the race. Thus, the race was a bit shorter, the riders had to go from the power to the limit. "It certainly helped that we did not start at the top," Vonn said.

For the second-placed Suter but played no role: "She will remain forever the speed queen." As such, Vonn would have been annoyed with third place in previous years, but thanks to her poor health she also learned humility. "Normally I would have said I'm disappointed," Vonn said. "But my body does not let up, so I am very happy about bronze."

Happy was also Vonn's friend Aksel Lund Svindal, who won the silver medal on the downhill on Saturday in the final race of his career and made a benevolent prognosis for Vonn's final drive: "I saw some good things in the combination, so it would not surprise me if she wins a medal. "

Before she will fly home in the coming days, Vonn wants to "have some drinks" in the evening. To be celebrated with Stenmark - and with Svindal. "It's great that we both made such a fabulous career end."