Lindsey Vonns Olympic comeback hopes remain alive after crash injury

US Skier Lindsey Vonn Suffers Injury in Final Pre-Olympic Downhill Race

Lindsey Vonn, a 41-year-old American skier, crashed and injured her left knee during the final downhill race before the Milan Cortina Winter Games. The incident occurred on Friday in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, where Vonn lost control while landing a jump and ended up tangled in the safety nets.

Vonn was airlifted off the course for medical checks after receiving treatment for approximately five minutes. She then skied slowly to the finish line, stopping several times along the way and clutching her left knee.

The World Cup downhill race was subsequently cancelled due to the difficult conditions, including low visibility caused by snowfall. Vonn had been expected to be a major contender in the Games, with multiple podium finishes this season and a strong record of 12 World Cup wins at the Cortina d’Ampezzo venue.

Vonn posted on Instagram that she was discussing her injury with her doctors and team and would provide further updates as necessary. She expressed gratitude for the support from fans and teammates, including Jacqueline Wiles, who had been leading the race when it was cancelled.

International Ski and Snowboard Federation CEO Urs Lehmann stated that Vonn’s injury was being assessed by medical professionals, but it was unclear whether she would be able to compete in the Olympics. The Milan Cortina Winter Games are set to begin on February 8, with Vonn scheduled to participate in the women’s downhill event.

Source: Al Jazeera