Lindsey Vonn crashes in final downhill before Winter Olympics

Crans-Montana, Switzerland – Lindsey Vonn crashed in her final downhill before the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics on Friday and was left limping and bearing weight on her left knee.

Vonn lost control during a jump in the World Cup race and became entangled in the safety net at the top of the course.

After finally receiving medical attention, she got up and walked quietly, taking weight off her left knee and using her cane to steady herself. She then pulled her skis back on but stopped to check her left knee.

Last month, Vaughn won surprisingly fast in ups and downs at the World Cup in St. Moritz to secure his first win in almost eight years – and his first in his return with a titanium implant in his right knee after a five-year retirement.

Vonn finally reached the finish area on Friday.

Vonn finally reached the finish area on Friday and limped to a tent for medical care. The race was later cancelled after three of the first six racers crashed.

Before entering the tent, Vonn had a worried expression on her face and her eyes were closed during a prolonged hug with teammate Jacqueline Wills, who was on the front lines when the race was cancelled.

Vonn, 41, has been the circuit’s leading downhiller this season with two wins and three other podium finishes, returning from a partial right knee titanium replacement last season.

The accident occurred just a week before the Milan Cortina opening ceremony.

Vonn’s first Olympic race is the women’s downhill on February 8. She also planned to compete in the super-G and new team combined events at the Games.

Women’s skiing at the Olympics will be held in Cortina d’Ampezzo, where Vonn holds a record 12 World Cup wins.

Vonn was also planning a super-G race in Crans-Montana on Saturday, which would have been her final race before the Games.

Vonn had recorded the fastest time at the first checkpoint and then jumped off balance, raising her left arm and pole high in the air in an attempt to regain her balance. Then as he tried to apply the brakes, Vaughan spun and got caught in the net.

Vonn was the sixth racer to start and two other skiers also crashed before her: Austria’s Nina Ortlieb and Norway’s Marte Monsen.

Ortlieb crashed at the top in the same area as Vonn and Monsen hit the net just before the finish area and had to be carried in a sled. The race was delayed after both of those accidents. But then two racers – Wills and Olympic champion Corinne Suter – completed their race.

Romain Miradoli of France, who finished his race, said visibility was a problem due to snowfall.

“You can’t see,”, Miradoli said, “and it’s bumpy everywhere.”

Asked if it was dangerous, Miradoli said, “We couldn’t see properly.”

Vaughan has faced many setbacks in his career. His worst performance came during a super-G at the 2013 World Championships in Schladming, Austria, which was also held in difficult conditions. After this, Vaughan had to be airlifted from the road and his right knee got torn. She returned the following season, was injured again and missed the 2014 Sochi Olympics.