By Elizabeth Karam, U.S. Ski Team

VAL d’ISERE, France -– Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn of Vail regained the overall lead over German Maria Riesch, winning the Audi FIS Alpine World Cup super combined to sweep the weekend in Val d’Isere.

Sunday marked the second day this year for a USA double victory with Olympic Champion Ted Ligety of Park City on top in the Alta Badia, Italy, giant slalom for his third straight GS win this season.

“I watched Ted’s run before I raced and it definitely motivated me,” Vonn said. “He skied amazingly well. He’s on an incredible roll right now and I’m really excited for him. It’s a great day for the U.S. Ski Team.”

Saturday, Vonn received one of the highest honors in global sport. The Associated Press, the world’s largest news agency, announced her as its Female Athlete of the Year – the first time a skier has received the honor.

Soft snow and flat light did not stop Vonn from charging, crossing the super G finish line in 1:18.66 with a three-tenths cushion over Austria’s Nicole Hosp heading into the slalom portion.

In the slalom run, times were tight making an exciting finish for the cheering crowd, where they witnessed four Americans land inside the top 30. Julia Mancuso of Squaw Valley was 15th, followed by World Cup rookie Laurenne Ross of Klamath Falls, Ore., in 16th and Leanne Smith of Conway, N.H., in 26th.

Vonn posted the fifth fastest slalom run, for a combined time of 2:07.80, building her lead on Hosp and the field to clinch her fourth super combined and 36th career World Cup win. Hosp finished third with Austria’s Elisabeth Goergl second.

The women race slalom in Courchevel Dec. 21 before a short holiday break.

Official results, Audi FIS Alpine World Cup. Val d’Isere, France, Super Combined

1. Lindsey Vonn, Vail, CO, 2:07.80

2. Elisabeth Goergl, Austria, 2:08.26

3. Nicole Hosp, Austria, 2:08.49

4. Anna Fenninger, Austria, 2:08.57

5. Maria Riesch, Germany, 2:09.05

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15. Julia Mancuso, Squaw Valley, CA, 2:10.32

16. Laurenne Ross, Klamath Falls, OR 2:10.65

26. Leanne Smith, Conway, NH, 2:11.72

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34. Stacey Cook, Mammoth, CA, 2:13.37

36. Megan McJames, Park City, UT, 2:15.15