CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland — Lindsey Vonn crashed and injured her left knee on Friday in her remaining downhill race earlier than the Olympics, however mentioned she nonetheless hopes to get better in time for the Milan Cortina Winter Video games.
“It is a very troublesome consequence one week earlier than the Olympics… but when there’s one factor I understand how to do, it’s a comeback,” the 41-year-old American wrote on Instagram, hours after she was airlifted off the course for medical checks. “My Olympic dream is just not over.”
Michel Cottin/Agence Zoom by way of Getty Pictures
Vonn was the third skier to crash within the World Cup race in Crans-Montana when she misplaced management whereas touchdown a leap and ended up tangled within the security nets on the higher portion of the course.
She obtained up after receiving medical consideration for about 5 minutes, seemingly in ache and utilizing her poles to regular herself. Vonn then skied slowly to the end line, stopping a few instances on the way in which down and clutching her left knee.
“I crashed at the moment within the Downhill race in Switzerland and injured my left knee. I’m discussing the state of affairs with my docs and group and can proceed to endure additional exams,” Vonn wrote in her Instagram post. “Thanks for the entire love and help. I’ll give extra info when I’ve it.”
The race, which was held in troublesome circumstances with low visibility, was canceled after Vonn’s crash.
The American, who was anticipated to be one of many greatest stars of the Video games, limped right into a tent for medical consideration earlier than being airlifted away by helicopter, dangling from a hoist cable with two folks attending her.
FABRICE COFFRINI by way of Getty Pictures
Earlier than she entered the tent, Vonn had an anxious expression on her face and her eyes had been closed throughout a protracted embrace with teammate Jacqueline Wiles, who was main the race when it was canceled.
“I do know she damage her knee, I talked to her,” the Worldwide Ski and Snowboard Federation CEO Urs Lehmann instructed reporters within the end space. “I don’t know if it’s actually heavy and (if) she gained’t miss the Olympics. Let’s look ahead to what the docs are saying.”
Vonn made a surprising comeback final season at age 40 after practically six years away from ski racing. Snowboarding with a partial titanium implant in her proper knee, she has been the circuit’s main downhiller this season with two victories and three different podium finishes within the 5 races.
Together with super-G, Vonn had accomplished eight World Cup races this season and completed on the rostrum in seven of them. Her worst end was fourth.
The crash occurred precisely every week earlier than the Milan Cortina opening ceremony.
Vonn’s first Olympic race is the ladies’s downhill on Feb. 8. She was additionally planning on competing within the super-G and the brand new group mixed occasion on the Video games.
Girls’s snowboarding on the Olympics will likely be held in Cortina d’Ampezzo, the place Vonn holds the report of 12 World Cup wins.
Vonn was additionally planning on racing a super-G in Crans-Montana on Saturday in what would have been her remaining race earlier than the Video games.
