US skier Lindsey Vonn says she has “no regrets” regardless of confirming she wants “a number of surgical procedures” after struggling a leg fracture in a crash on the Winter Olympics.
The 41-year-old was competing within the ladies’s downhill snowboarding last on Sunday in Cortina, northern Italy, when she crashed on the piste after clipping a slalom gate whereas midair.
The crash, occurring simply 13 seconds into the run, resulted in Vonn, who was airlifted to hospital, sustaining a “complicated tibia fracture” and present process preliminary surgical procedure.
Lindsey Vonn crashes 13 seconds into her run. Pic: AP
She had already ruptured her ACL in a crash at a World Cup race in Switzerland on 30 January however was decided to compete at her fifth and last Video games.
In an Instagram submit on Monday, Vonn mentioned: “Yesterday my Olympic dream didn’t end the way in which I dreamt it might.
“It wasn’t a narrative guide ending or a fairy story, it was simply life.
“Sadly, I sustained a fancy tibia fracture that’s at present steady however would require a number of surgical procedures to repair correctly.
“Whereas yesterday didn’t finish the way in which I had hoped, and regardless of the extreme bodily ache it brought about, I’ve no regrets.”
Regardless of coming into the Winter Olympics with damage, Vonn was nonetheless thought-about a medal hopeful and accomplished two spectacular coaching runs earlier within the week.
The 2010 downhill champion had returned to elite ski racing final season after practically six years in retirement, having had a partial knee substitute on her proper leg.
She mentioned her previous accidents “had nothing to do with my crash in any respect”.
Taking dangers ‘the fantastic thing about life’
In her social media message, Vonn acknowledged the risks of ski racing however insisted having the possibility to compete “was an unimaginable feeling that I’ll always remember”.
“Realizing I stood there having an opportunity to win was a victory in and of itself,” she mentioned. “I additionally knew that racing was a danger. It all the time was and all the time will likely be an extremely harmful sport.
“And much like ski racing, we take dangers in life.
“We dream. We love. We bounce. And typically we fall. Generally our hearts are damaged. Generally we do not obtain the goals we all know we may have. However that can also be the fantastic thing about life; we are able to attempt.
“I attempted. I dreamt. I jumped.”
Learn extra:
Should Vonn have even been competing?
Water cannon and tear gas fired at protesters
Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) sports activities director Pierre Ducrey mentioned the decision for Vonn to compete was entirely her own.
He mentioned: “She was in a position to prepare and make the selection with the superb group that she has to participate.”
Mr Ducrey mentioned it wasn’t for the IOC to say whether or not she ought to have participated, including: “This resolution was actually hers and her group’s to take.”
