Suffering multiple injuries after a serious crash on Tuesday's opening day of the Alpine World Championships in Austria – and facing surgery – the most successful skier in U.S. history vows to compete in next year's Sochi Olympics.
After first thanking the medical team that looked after her (initially at the scene of the crash, then at the local hospital), as well as her fans for "the outpouring of support," Vonn said in a statement released to Wednesday's Today" show: "I plan on returning to Vail as soon as I can to have the necessary surgeries."
She also said, "I can assure you that I will work as hard as humanly possible to be ready to represent my country next year in Sochi."
Lindsey Vonn transported by a helicopter
Fabrice Cofrini / Getty
Vonn, 28, tore her anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament in her right knee, U.S. ski team medical director Kyle Wilkens said in a statement. The broken bone was described as a "lateral tibial plateau fracture" – a break in the shinbone near the knee that affects stability and motion.
While doctors have speculated that Vonn could face six to eight months of recuperation and rehab before she's back on skis, U.S. speed coach Chip White told NBC News, "It was a very aggressive crash, [though] it's an injury that's not unusual in ski racing."
About Vonn, he said, "She was back in the hotel a couple hours after the accident. She was in good spirits, starting to plot out her rehab and next step, so I'm confident that we will see Lindsey Vonn in Sochi next year."
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