Comeback Italiano

Kristian Ghedina became the first Italian since 1990 to win a World Cup downhill ski race with a smooth effort at Wengen, Switzerland, that capped his comeback from a near-fatal auto accident.

The downhill specialist covered the famous Lauberhorn course in 2 minutes, 26.33 seconds, .85 seconds ahead Peter Rzehjak.

American Kyle Rasmussen was 10th, beating his compatriot and reigning Olympic downhill champion, Tommy Moe, by two-hundredths of a second.

At Cortina D’Ampezzo, Italy, Picabo Street of Sun Valley, Idaho, finished second in women’s World Cup competition.

The 1994 Olympic silver medalist led until German Michaela Gerg-Leitner beat her by two-hundredths of a second.