Lindsey Vonn celebrates at the end of her downhill run at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Are, Sweden on Sunday, Feb. 10. Vonn won the bronze medal in the final race of her career. (Photo: Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom/Getty Images)
It was an ending fitting of a champion.
Vail's Lindsey Vonn sped to a third-place finish and a bronze medal in the downhill at the World Ski Championships in Are, Sweden on Sunday, February 10.
Vonn, fighting through a body wracked with pain, finished 0.49 seconds behind gold medalist Ilka Stuhec of Slovenia. Corinne Suter of Switzerland took the silver medal, 0.23 seconds off Stuhec's pace.
She won 82 World Cup races, second in the history of the sport behind only the legendary Ingemar Stenmark, who has the record of 86 career wins. Stenmark was there to greet Vonn at the finish area after her run.
Vonn finishes her career with three Olympic medals (one gold, two bronze) and eight medals at the World Championships (three gold, three silver, five bronze).
The third-place finish gave Vonn a medal in six separate World Championships, the first female skier to accomplish that feat.
Vonn leaves a legacy as the greatest female skier in the history of the sport. In addition, she has inspired countless girls to accomplish all they can.
MORE ON VONN'S FINAL RACE HERE
Here is Vonn's bronze medal run and the final race of her career, along with her interview with NBC.
Lindsey Vonn speeds to a bronze medal at the World Championships. (Photo: Alain Grosclaude/Agence Zoom/Getty Images)
Lindsey Vonn celebrates a downhill bronze medal. (Photo: Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom/Getty Images)
Lindsey Vonn and Ingemar Stenmark. (Photo: Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom/Getty Images)
Lindsey Vonn and her U.S. Ski Team teammates. (Photo: Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom/Getty Images)