Lindsey Vonn ends ski season eight races early after discovering THREE fractures in her knee

  • Vonn, 31, thought she had a minor knee injury but has three fractures
  • She crashed on Saturday, skiied again on Sunday, but dropped out of the season on Wednesday - despite having eight more races scheduled
  • She thanked her fans on Instagram as she posted her x-rays

By Associated Press

Published: 09:44 EST, 2 March 2016 | Updated: 01:42 EST, 3 March 2016

Lindsey Vonn has been forced to end her ski season early after discovering a knee fracture was more serious than she thought.

The overall World Cup leader will miss the eight final games of 2016 in a desperate bid to recuperate as any further damage could dramatically affect her career, she said on Wednesday.

It comes after Vonn crashed on Saturday in a super-G race in Andorra after catching a spot of soft snow. 

Posting her x-rays on Instagram, the 31-year-old explained to followers that what she thought was a hairline fracture is in fact serious three fractures in her knee.

Out the race: Lindsay Vonn has been sidelined by a knee injury. Posting her x-rays on Instagram, Vonn explained to followers that what she thought was a minor injury is in fact serious three fractures in her knee

Out the race: Lindsay Vonn has been sidelined by a knee injury. Posting her x-rays on Instagram, Vonn explained to followers that what she thought was a minor injury is in fact serious three fractures in her knee

Lindsey Vonn, of the United States, reacts at finish line after an alpine ski, women's World Cup, combined race, in Soldeu, Andorra, on Sunday - a day after crashing in a race due to catching some soft snow

Lindsey Vonn, of the United States, reacts at finish line after an alpine ski, women's World Cup, combined race, in Soldeu, Andorra, on Sunday - a day after crashing in a race due to catching some soft snow

A squeamish video of medics draining fluid from her knee
A picture of her dog lying lovingly on her bandaged-up leg

The American champion also posted a squeamish video of medics draining fluid from her knee (left) and a picture of her dog lying lovingly on her bandaged-up leg (right) for followers to see how she was doing

She also posted a picture of her dog lying lovingly on her bandaged-up leg, and a squeamish video of medics draining fluid from her knee. 

Then, posting a picture of her final race on Sunday, Vonn wrote the caption: 'Today I am making the difficult decision to end my season and leave the World Cup circuit due to an injury I suffered last Saturday. 

'Because I am currently leading the Overall World Cup standings, this is one of the toughest decisions of my career.'

She added: 'I am very proud of what I have been able to accomplish this year: 9 World Cup victories, breaking the World Cup downhill win record, breaking the World Cup Super G podium record, and winning the most World Cup discipline titles - 20 - of any skier, male or female.

'While I am confident that I'm making the right decision, it still doesn't make this decision any easier. 

'Thanks to everyone who supported me and stood by me through it all.'

The American champion raced on Sunday in the combined super-G event, extending her overall lead by finishing in 13th place, after initial x-rays suggested her injury was minor.

But on Wednesday, she confirmed her season was over.

'After the super combined on Sunday, I went to Barcelona where more precise MRI and CT equipment was available and scans were performed on Tuesday morning,' Vonn said in a statement on her website. 

'Those images showed that there was not just one hairline fracture, but in fact three. And the fractures are not hairline, but instead they are significant enough that they are not sufficiently stable to permit me to safely continue skiing.'

Because of the results of the tests, the four-time overall champion said she decided to end her season immediately, calling it 'one of the toughest decisions of my career'.

She said any further damage could hurt her chances of skiing in the future. 

'With the world championships in St. Moritz next year and the Winter Olympics in South Korea the following year, I cannot take that risk,' Vonn said.

With eight races to go, Vonn leads the overall World Cup standings with 1,235 points, followed closely by Lara Gut of Switzerland with 1,207. 

Viktoria Rebensburg of Germany is third with 914.

Vonn (pictured on Sunday) crashed on Saturday in Andorra after catching a spot of soft snow

Vonn (pictured on Sunday) crashed on Saturday in Andorra after catching a spot of soft snow

The American champion raced on Sunday, extending her overall lead by finishing in 13th place

The American champion raced on Sunday, extending her overall lead by finishing in 13th place

'It's a real shame that the tense fight for the overall title can't last until the end,' Gut said in a Swiss ski federation statement. 'I wish Lindsey Vonn a good recovery and a successful return next season.'

Men's overall leader Aksel Lund Svindal was also ruled out for the season with a right knee injury from a crash in January in Kitzbuehel, Austria.

Vonn has won nine races this season after a hampered preparation. 

She missed the season-opening race in October after a 10-week layoff because of a broken ankle bone, a year after coming back from the injuries that kept her away from the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

In Cortina, Vonn won a downhill to eclipse Annemarie Moser-Proell's mark of 36 career wins in skiing's marquee event. She then won a super-G for her 11th career victory at the Italian resort, breaking the record of retired Austrian standout Renate Goetschl.

'While I am confident that I'm making the right decision,' Vonn said, 'it still doesn't make this decision any easier.' 

 

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