Life off the skis this year hasn't always been that easy for Lindsey Vonn (she and husband Thomas Vonn filed for divorce early in the season), but life on the skis has been spectacular. And in a way, the personal issues played a role in the competitive success.

"I think it's just given me more purpose -- skiing is the only thing that is simple in my life and that's helped me focus on skiing in general," Vonn said Friday in a conference call after accomplishing a feat no American skier, male or female, ever had. "I've gone through difficult times in life with injuries and some family issues, but skiing has always been a constant. I can always rely on it. I've always been able to wake up knowing I can go on the mountain and focus."

Vonn, who grew up in Minnesota where the local slope had a vertical drop of about 300 feet, is simply the most successful skier in American history, with the World Cup titles to back it up.

By winning the giant slalom at Are, Sweden, on Friday, Vonn clinched her American-record fourth World Cup overall title. Vonn had shared the U.S. record with Phil Mahre at three after nearly setting the record last year, when she finished three points shy of the title (she previously won in 2008, 2009 and 2010). She said last season gave her incentive this year.

"I was more motivated," she said. "I was disappointed in the way the season ended last year, with races canceled and losing the overall by three points. I wanted to come out strong and keep that going until the end. The problems in my personal life made me more focused. I definitely have held my focus more than ever before."

Vonn had the lead after the first giant slalom run Friday and won with a combined time of 2:28.0, nearly a half-second ahead of Italy's Federica Brignone. It was her 11th win of the season and 52nd of her career. It also was her 15th World Cup season title in a specific discipline and third of this year (she already locked up the downhill and super-combined titles). With an American-record 1,808 World Cup points, she also has a chance to break Hermann Maier's season record of 2,000 when the season ends next weekend.

"I'm really excited about next week," she said Friday. "Trying to beat the 2,000-point barrier is extremely significant and I may never have the opportunity again. It's been a huge day in many ways, but I still have a lot of motivation for the end of the season. I will fight to end and hopefully will have the points at the end."

Vonn credited her offseason training for building up the endurance she needed this season. She said switching to the longer men's skies helped her improve in the giant slalom, which had been her lone weakness.

"I felt like I entered the season stronger than I've ever been before as far as physical strength," she said. "I felt like I got on roll and didn't stop."

Eleven victories, a whirlwind trip to Russia (she clinched her fifth consecutive World Cup downhill title on the slope where the 2014 Sochi Olympics will be held), a win to clinch her fourth overall title, a chance to pass Maier -- can a skier pack more into a season?

"It's been an incredible season," Vonn said. "I've had a lot of personal struggles off the slope and I found the mental strength to overcome it. My sisters have been around, and there have just been a lot of really special moments this season. I feel lucky to have skied as well as I did."