ST. MORITZ, Switzerland—Alpine skier and Olympic gold medal contender Anja Pärson picked just the right time to perfect her form in the run up to the 2010 Winter Games.
Pärson powered to her 41st World Cup victory with a win in the women's super-combined event Jan. 29 then placed third in the downhill Jan. 30 and the giant slalom Jan. 31.
In her victory Jan. 29, Pärson clocked a combined time over a super-G and slalom course of 2 minutes 0.54 seconds, 0.43 seconds ahead of Michaela Kirchgasser of Austria and 0.92 seconds ahead of American Lindsey Vonn.
With just weeks to go before the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, the victory could not have come at a better time for the most decorated skier on the women's circuit—it was her first since the Altenmarkt downhill a year ago.
"I wanted to do well, it's very important before the Games," she said. "This victory is really perfect ahead of the Olympics."
Pärson said the long wait between wins in the World Cup didn’t really bother her.
“I'm patient, and if you work, it pays off,” she said. “However, up until now my season wasn't terrible; I was often in the top 10.”
Vonn seemed better placed after the super-G with the second fastest time but Pärson upped the ante in the slalom, overcoming a 0.8-second deficit on the American on her way to the top of the podium.
"I'm really very pleased," Vonn said. "The points are welcome for the super-combined World Cup and especially for the World Cup overall."
Vonn saw her lead of the World Cup overall standings increase while Pärson moved into third place.