Götschl powers to victory in Saint Moritz

Austria's Renate Götschl celebrates her win in Saint Moritz Keystone

Reigning overall champion Renate Götschl capped off a perfect weekend for Austrian women on Sunday, winning the second of back-to-back downhills at the World Cup in Saint Moritz, in Switzerland's canton Graubünden.

The 1999 downhill world champion, who settled for second place in the first of the back-to-back downhills on Saturday behind teammate Brigitte Obermoser, refused to have victory slip through her fingers a second time, blitzing down the hard, sun-kissed Corviglia I course in a winning time of 1 minute, 36.49 seconds.

Sunday’s win was also Austria’s five hundredth since the World Cup began over 30 years ago.

Götschl, who won a super-G in Lake Louise, Canada, earlier in the season, was followed by Italy’s Isolde Kostner, the winner of the Lake Louise downhill, who was runner-up in 1:36.59. France’s Regine Cavagnoud, who won a super-G on home snow in Val d’Isère last week, crossed third in 1:37.13.

Obermoser, who collected her first career downhill on Saturday, was unable to find her way back onto the podium, placing fourth in 1:37.27. Switzerland’s Corinne Rey-Bellet managed only seventh place, timing 1:37.61.

The race was interrupted for about 20 minutes after France’s Melanie Suchet caught a ski on a turn on the Reinhaltersprunges. Medics tended to her on the course before carrying her off on a sledge.

The French skier suffered from torn ligaments in her left knee and will need surgery, organizers said.

swissinfo with agencies