US ski star Lindsey Vonn has reportedly been discharged from hospital in Italy, about a week after a horror crash ended her Olympic comeback.
Vonn, 41, was airlifted off the piste after crashing just 13 seconds into her final run in the women’s downhill final in Cortina last Sunday (8 February).
The Team USA athlete was heard screaming after the accident, as she was surrounded by medical personnel. She was initially taken to a hospital in Cortina, before being transferred to a larger medical facility in Treviso.
Reuters news agency is now reporting that the skier has been discharged and has headed for Treviso airport, citing two sources close to the matter.
Vonn said on Saturday that her fourth surgery of the week “went well”, adding in a post on Instagram: “Thankfully I will be able to finally go back to the US! Once I’m back I will give you more updates and info about my injury.”
Vonn suffered a complex tibia fracture in the crash – which comes with a recovery time of eight to 11 months, according to orthopaedic specialists. She has another operation scheduled in the United States.
“When I think back on my crash, I didn’t stand in the starting gate unaware of the potential consequences,” Vonn added in her post. “I knew what I was doing. I chose to take a risk.
“Every skier in that starting gate took the same risk. Because even if you are the strongest person in the world, the mountain always holds the cards.”
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Vonn, the 2010 Olympic champion and second most successful female World Cup skier of all-time, had been hoping to become the oldest Alpine skiing medallist in Games history.
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She was taking part in the Olympic final just over a week after rupturing her ACL in a crash at a World Cup event in Switzerland.
“The love I have for skiing remains. I am still looking forward to the moment when I can stand on the top of the mountain once more. And I will,” she said.
