Over a year after her 40th World Cup win in Austria, Anja Paerson finally managed to win another major competition today at St. Moritz where she captured the second super combined of the season thanks to two strong runs in super-G and slalom.

Anja Paerson of Sweden clears a gate during an women's Alpine Ski World Cup Super Combined Super-G race in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Friday, Jan 29, 2010. Paerson finished in first place. (AP Photo/Keystone, Arno Balzarini)

She finished ahead of Austria's promising Michaela Kirchgasser and top-favourite Lindsey Vonn who didn't take extra risks in the slalom run to be sure to score some ‘heavy points' in that event after Maria Riesch's DNF in the super-G leg.

Lindsey Vonn of the United States speeds down the course during an Alpine Ski, Women's World Cup super-combined race, in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 29, 2010. Vonn finished in third place. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

Austria's Michaela Kirchgasser races to the second place, during an Alpine Ski, Women's World Cup super-combined race, in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 29, 2010. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

Anja is quite a remarkable person - a tough and stubborn fighter since her childhood at Taernaby, the soon 29-year-old Swede keeps on pushing herself forward thanks to her great fighting spirit and her aversion to defeats.

The Scandinavian achieved impressive performances since her debuts on the World Cup tour in March 1998, winning at only 17 her first World Cup slalom at Mammoth Mt, California, in December. Less than two years later, she clinched her first gold medal in slalom in February 2001 at St. Anton, Austria. She added six more golds in all events during the following six years as well as two Overall World Cup titles and an Olympic triumph in slalom in 2006 at Sestriere. Her duels with Croatia's skiing legend Janica Kostelic were particularly amazing and thrilling.

Anja faced tougher winters after her hat-trick at Are in February 2007 because of her bad knees and the arrival of a younger generation of very determined and talented champions as Lindsey Vonn and Maria Riesch.

Eleven month ago, she even left the Val d'Isère 2009 World Championships without a single medal even though she had excelled in the speed events and combined earlier in January. Fortunately that collapse boosted her motivation afterwards. She trained once more very hard last summer, mainly in giant slalom, with the aim to find back part of the lost technical qualities in the gate events.

After a slow season start, Anja picked-up momentum in December and reached her first podium finish in downhill at Haus im Ennstal, Austria earlier this month. She added more top-3 results afterwards, even in giant slalom at Maribor for the first time since 2007.

Anja Paerson of Sweden competes on her way to win an Alpine Ski, Women's World Cup super-combined race, in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 29, 2010. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

Two more podium finishes at Cortina d'Ampezzo last weekend put Paerson in the right mind frame for another ‘coup' at St. Moritz where she has always felt herself particularly comfortable. "I won so many races here, including gold in giant slalom at the 2003 Worlds, that I am very confident while moving on those slopes," she explained after her latest triumph.

"In a last-minute-decision I entered my first World Cup downhill here six years ago and I almost won it despite my lack of experience and no training in the specialty," she also recalls. "I missed one of the last gates after having clocked the best intermediate time, I was so disappointed."

"But then I won three times here and I just like skiing here. The snow conditions are mostly excellent and I feel very serene in that place. That strong sense of harmony which I have here is crucial for my mental balance. It also helps me to be more focused and very efficient on my skis."

"My super-G run this morning was OK - nothing special, but my slalom was really excellent. I have been looking forward for a long time for that sentiment of confidence and to be able to attack the course the way I want to. My slalom season has been pretty frustrating so far, especially in recent weeks with a series of bad results in Zagreb and Flachau and then Maribor."

"But today I found back a good timing and I skied pretty hard. I'm really pleased with my skiing which was finally good enough to help me win again. Even though I'm now a veteran with so many great results, I keep on feeling tense and nervous until celebrating again a victory. I know that things can keep on improving for me in the next weeks."

"I'm going to train again in the same place that brought me luck prior to the wonderful 2007 World Championships at Are. I'm looking forward to spend a great time there with my group and enjoy each single minute prior to travelling to Canada. It would be so great to earn another Olympic medal."

Anja Paerson of Sweden reacts after winning an Alpine Ski, Women's World Cup super-combined race, in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 29, 2010. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Anja hasn't confirmed yet her plan to retire or not after the end of this season. She badly wanted to win a third Overall World Cup title prior to ending her impressive career - yet it obviously won't happen this winter. "I have been thinking about it, but I have not taken my final decision for the moment," she said last month at Lake Louise. "A lot will depend on how I'll feel at the end of the season and my results at the Olympics."

by Patrick Lang
FISalpine.com
Friday 29 January 2010

Lindsey Vonn, USA, celebrates in the finishing are after the women's Alpine Ski World Cup Super Combined Super-G race in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Friday, Jan 29, 2010. Vonn is in second position after the Super-G. (AP Photo/Keystone, Karl Mathis)

Anja Paerson of Sweden, center, winner of an Alpine Ski, Women's World Cup super-combined race, stands on the podium with second placed Michaela Kirchgasser of Austria, left, and third placed Lindsey Vonn of the United States, in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 29, 2010. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

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