Sofia Goggia takes Austrian downhill, moves to 4th all-time in wins in speed discipline

Sofia Goggia was a winner again in a World Cup downhill Saturday and rose to fourth on the all-time list of career victories in the marquee speed discipline.

The 2018 Olympic champion's first downhill win this season and 18th of her World Cup career was by 0.10 seconds over Stephanie Venier. In a tie for third place, Nicol Delago and Mirjam Puchner were both 0.34 behind Goggia.

Only ski greats Lindsey Vonn, Annemarie Moser-Pröll and Renate Götschl have more women's downhill wins in the World Cup circuit's 67-year history. Vonn leads with 43.

Goggia was denied victory in the season-opening downhill last month at St. Moritz, Switzerland, by Mikaela Shiffin, who skipped this weekend's races in Austria. Shiffrin is scheduled to return Tuesday evening in a slalom at Flachau.

There were also no Canadians entered in Saturday's race.

WATCH | Goggia extends points lead in the season-long World Cup downhill standings:

Goggia won one day after failing to finish a super-G where she had looked ill at ease on the Austrian snow.

"It was really emotional to me after yesterday and not just because it was a bad race, but for many reasons I cannot explain to you now," Goggia said. "I was really emotional [Friday] morning."

The 31-year-old Italian extended her points lead in the season-long World Cup downhill standings where she seeks a fifth title and a fourth straight.

Goggia is fifth in the overall World Cup standings which Shiffrin now leads by 164 points from Federica Brignone, the 2020 champion who placed 14th on Saturday. Brignone can close the gap further in a super-G on Sunday.

WATCH | Previewing 2024 World Cup alpine skiing classic races with Goggia: