Dorfmeister signs off with gold

Winter Olympics: Michaela Dorfmeister marked her final season with an Olympic gold medal today after storming to victory in …

Winter Olympics: Michaela Dorfmeister marked her final season with an Olympic gold medal today after storming to victory in the women's downhill at Sestriere.

The 32-year-old Austrian, who is set to retire from the sport, beat Swiss Martina Schild into second place by 0.37 seconds with Sweden's Anja Paerson third.

Olympic glory had been the only thing to elude Dorfmeister in a glittering career including two World Championship victories and an overall World Cup success in 2002.

Dorfmeister could not contain her emotions once her victory was secure and burst into tears in front of the television cameras.

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Dorfmeister said: "It is like a dream. I didn't ski for two nights because I was under so much pressure - but when I took the lift to the start I said 'today I'll do it'.

"That elusive medal was probably the only thing that has kept me skiing. And there is a special satisfaction to beat the young ones."

Dorfmeister is Austria's first Olympic women's downhill champion since Annemarie Moser-Proll clinched gold in Lake Placid in 1980.