Lindsey Vonn was airlifted to hospital after a crash in her final Alpine Skiing World Cup event in worrying scenes just days before the start of the Winter Olympics.
The American skiing great, 41, lost control after landing a jump on the course in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, before skidding into the safety netting.
She got up after receiving medical attention for about 5 minutes, seemingly in pain and using her poles to steady herself. Vonn then skied slowly to the finish line, stopping a couple of times on the way down and clutching her left knee.
Vonn is one of the most decorated skiiers of all time and embarking on an incredible comeback to the sport going into next week’s Games. But now, there is huge concern over if she’ll be able to participate at all.
‘I know she hurt her knee, I talked to her,’ the International Ski and Snowboard Federation CEO Urs Lehmann told reporters in the finish area.
‘I don’t know if it’s really heavy and (if) she won´t miss the Olympics. Let’s wait for what the doctors are saying.’
Lindsey Vonn was airlifted to hospital with an injury that could threaten her Winter Olympics
The American great, 41, appeared to hurt her knee after crashing in Switzerland
She was further assessed inside the medical tent before being airlifted away. Organizers cancelled the World Cup race after her crash due to the incessant snowfall.
One of her fellow competitors, Romane Miradoli of France, raised the alarm over the conditions and visibility.
‘You can’t see, and it’s bumpy everywhere,’ she said. ‘We just couldn’t see well.’
Miradoli was one of the few skiiers to complete her run.
Vonn made a stunning comeback last season at age 40 after nearly six years away from ski racing. Skiing with a partial titanium implant in her right knee, she has been the circuit´s leading downhiller this season with two victories and three other podium finishes in the five races.
Including super-G, Vonn had completed eight World Cup races this season and finished on the podium in seven of them. Her worst finish was fourth.
Vonn has won four World Cup overall championships and was among the favourites for the women’s downhill at the Winter Olympics, which begins on Friday next week.
More to follow.
