Bode Miller and Lindsey Vonn received their large crystal globes Sunday to mark the first American sweep of overall World Cup skiing titles since Phil Mahre and Tamara McKinney accomplished the feat 25 years ago.

"It's history and it doesn't happen very often, so you have to enjoy the moment and I'm definitely enjoying it," Vonn said after the American anthem was played for the second time.

Lindsey Vonn, left, and Bode Miller were honoured Sunday for their World Cup titles this season.
(Armando Trovati/Associated Press)

Miller asked photographers to hurry up so he could get back to his motor home.

"It was great for USA skiing, but I don't think it has much of an effect one way or another in the U.S," he said. "But it is cool to see us take those globes away from the Europeans once in a while."

The ceremony in Bormio, Italy was held on a rainy morning after the team event that was scheduled to close the season was cancelled. The stands were mostly empty.

"It's raining, so it's a little bit weird, but I'm really happy," Vonn said, adding that she almost cried during the anthem. "I tried not to because you don't want to mess up the makeup. But it was a pretty emotional time."

Miller broke away from the U.S. team to race and train on his own this season. He didn't drink all season, then let loose at what was advertised around town as "the Bode Miller party" Saturday night.

"Bode didn't look so well this morning," Vonn said. "But he's a really, really awesome athlete and I'm really proud of him and happy for Americans."