Ski star Lindsey Vonn withdraws from race after spinal joint injury during World Cup in Switzerland two months ahead of Winter Olympics

After injuring her back in a World Cup race, Lindsey Vonn withdrew from another scheduled super-G on Sunday
'Unfortunately I will not be able to race today,' Vonn said on her Twitter account 45 minutes before the original scheduled start
The event was cancelled due to fog
Vonn was injured as she finished a World Cup super-G race on Saturday
The star crossed the finished line and then slumped to the ground in pain
Vonn made headlines this week after she said she would 'represent the people of the United States' at the 2018 Winter Olympics and 'not the president'

By Associated Press and Mary Kekatos For Dailymail.com

Published: 18:33 GMT, 10 December 2017 | Updated: 21:32 GMT, 10 December 2017

e-mail

285

View
comments

After injuring her back in a World Cup race, Lindsey Vonn withdrew from another scheduled super-G on Sunday before it was canceled due to fog.

'Unfortunately I will not be able to race today,' Vonn said on her Twitter account 45 minutes before the original scheduled start in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

'I am extremely disappointed but my biggest goal this season is the Olympics,' said the American star, who won the downhill title at the 2010 Vancouver Games but missed the 2014 Sochi Games due to injury.

After injuring her back in a World Cup race, Lindsey Vonn withdrew from another scheduled super-G on Sunday

'Unfortunately I will not be able to race today. I am extremely disappointed but my biggest goal this season is the Olympics and I need to take care of myself now so I can be ready for next week, and more importantly, for February. As always, thank you for the well wishes,' she said on Twitter

Vonn jarred her back Saturday early in a World Cup super-G on the same St. Moritz course, and completed the race in obvious pain in 24th place.

Late Saturday on Twitter, she described the injury as 'an acute facet (spinal joint) dysfunction,' though she had not had an MRI.

Vonn added Sunday: 'I need to take care of myself now so I can be ready for next week, and more importantly, for February.'

The American star crossed the finish line in obvious distress, almost one second behind the then-leader, and slumped to the snow (pictured)

Late Saturday on Twitter, she described the injury as 'an acute facet (spinal joint) dysfunction,' though she had not had an MRI

Fog and strong winds high on the mountain had already forced race organizers Sunday to shorten the scheduled race and use a lower start gate.

Vonn (pictured, November 2017) stayed in the finish house to be treated and, one hour later, limped slowly into a waiting car to be driven from the St Moritz course

The 10.30am local time start was pushed back to 11.30am before organizers gave in to the thick fog shrouding the mountain.

The super-G was intended to be a stand-alone race and also double up as the first leg of a combined event with an afternoon slalom run. The combined was also canceled.

Vonn's tentative run after jarring her back early on placed her 24th, trailing 1.56 seconds behind the surprise winner, Jasmine Flury of Switzerland. The race was shortened due to strong winds higher up the mountain.

Vonn stayed in the finish house to be treated and, one hour later, limped slowly into a waiting car to be driven from the St Moritz, Switzerland, course.

Minutes earlier, her father Alan Kildow told The Associated Press his daughter was 'okay'.

Vonn made headlines this week after she said she would 'represent the people of the United States' at the 2018 Winter Olympics and 'not the president'

In a race interrupted several times by gusts lifting flurries of snow, Vonn wore the No 4 bib and was left standing at the start gate during the first delay of about three minutes. She stayed warm with a thick jacket draped on her shoulders.

Vonn did not speak with media or fans before getting into the car, and wore the hood of a United States team jacket up to shield her face from television cameras tracking her. An update on her injury is expected later Saturday on her social media accounts.

Before leaving, Vonn stopped to congratulate Flury standing in the leader's box.

The 24-year-old Swiss, who is ranked in the national Alpine team's third-tier category, had a career-best finish of fifth in World Cup races before Saturday.

Vonn (pictured, Saturday) did not speak with media or fans before getting into the car, and wore the hood of a United States team jacket up to shield her face from television cameras tracking her

Starting No 14, Flury raced down in bright sunshine and little wind to be 0.10 seconds faster than teammate Michelle Gisin, who wore start bib No 12.

'I really had great conditions. Other athletes they had not lots of sun like I had,' Flury told the AP. 'The snow conditions were so good, you just have to go, go, go.'

Vonn is one of the most decorated American skiers of all time, taking gold in the downhill at the 2010 Games in Vancouver and winning four overall World Cup titles.

Vonn (pictured, Saturday) is one of the most decorated American skiers of all time, taking gold in the downhill at the 2010 Games in Vancouver and winning four overall World Cup titles

The skiing star made headlines this week after she said she would 'represent the people of the United States' at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics and 'not the president'.

Vonn also said she would not visit the White House as part of the traditional appearance by all American Olympians.

The Pyeongchang Olympics in South Korea are staged Feb. 9-25.