PYEONGCHANG, South Korea — In what was most likely her last Olympic downhill, Lindsey Vonn, at 33, became the oldest woman to win an Alpine medal, claiming the bronze for the United States behind her rival Sofia Goggia of Italy and the surprise silver medalist, Ragnhild Mowinckel of Norway.

Skiers complete the course individually, but are shown competing at the same time in this sped-up animation. Skiers are spread across the width of the course for clarity. Skiers who do not finish are not shown.

Skiers complete the course individually, but are shown competing at the same time in this sped-up animation. Skiers are spread across the width of the course for clarity. Skiers who do not finish are not shown.

Goggia, 25, had one of the slowest starts on her way to gold, ranking 26th out of 39 racers after the top section of the course. Both Vonn and Mowinckel, 25, were faster out of the gate, but Goggia surged after that, finding a faster route down the mountain by setting up smooth turns like the one shown below.

TEXT Goggia Vonn Goggia Vonn Goggia Vonn Goggia Vonn

Composite image by Joe Ward, Jon Huang and K.K. Rebecca Lai/The New York Times

These small tactical moments are worth fractions of a second that add up over the 99 seconds the top racers spent on the course. Goggia amassed enough of them to edge out Mowinckel by 0.09 seconds and Vonn by 0.47.