It’s a near worse-case scenario for American skier Lindsey Vonn. The U.S. Ski Team has confirmed that Vonn suffered a torn ACL and MCL in her right knee as a result of her terrifying crash during Tuesday’s super G at the FIS Alpine Ski World Championships. Vonn also has a “lateral tibial plateau fracture,” per the team’s medical director Kyle Wilkens -- a “fracture or break in the continuity of the bone occurring in the proximal part of the tibia or shinbone.”
Lindsey Vonn crashes, tears ACL and MCL in right knee
According to U.S. Ski Team Medical Director Kyle Wilkens, Vonn suffered a torn ACL and MCL in her right knee and a lateral tibial plateau fracture.
Despite the severity of the injury -- she is (obviously) out for the remainder of this season -- the U.S. Ski Team remains optimistic, saying they expect Vonn to “return to racing for the 2013-14 Audi FIS World Cup season and the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.”
The Opening Ceremonies of the 2014 Winter Games are just 367 days away.
After a delay because of fog and low visibility, Vonn crashed coming off a jump about midway down the course, catching an edge as she landed, causing her right knee to twist in a way that a knee should never be twisted. She was immediately attended to by medical personnel for 12 minutes before being airlifted to a hospital.
Video of the crash shows the frightening landing and picks up audio of Vonn crying out in pain:
At the time of the crash, Vonn, who has more super G wins than any woman in history, was on pace to challenge for a spot on the podium. Slovenia’s Tina Maze won the gold medal after organizers stopped the event because of the lingering fog. Lara Gut finished second and American Julia Mancuso was third.
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