Lindsey Vonn’s Injury May Ruin Her Olympic Experience

By Brandon Penny — 02/11/10
America’s medal count is in jeopardy. And that’s because Lindsey Vonn may not even compete.
Vonn revealed she is worried about her badly bruised right shin. The injury occurred a week ago during a slalom training run in Austria. The alpine skier told reporters there’s a possibility she might not be able to ski, but it’s not over yet.
Both American and international media have had high expectations for Vonn in all five events she is scheduled to compete. She is a two-time overall World Cup champion and has won two World Championship golds. Vonn is also this season’s leader in World Cup points, and has nine wins this season.
In 2002, Vonn competed in her first Olympics. She was 17 years old. Her best finish was sixth in combined. Four years later, she crashed the day before Olympic downhill competition. She stayed in the hospital overnight but insisted on competing the next day, and finished eighth.
This Wednesday night, Vonn wrote on her Facebook: “My shin injury has made this an incredibly stressful week with all of my time going to therapy and rehab. Tomorrow I will try and ski for the first time since my crash, hopefully I can do it. xoxo Lv.”
However, others believe Lindsey Vonn’s Olympic story has changed and are already comparing her fate to that of athletes like Michelle Kwan. Figure Skaters Online webmaster Jamie Blanchard said to WEBN, “With a bruised shin making her questionable, is Lindsey Vonn going to become Michelle Kwan-like? Great in everything but the Olympics.” Kwan won nine US Championships, five World Championships, Olympic bronze and silver…but never the gold.
Lindsey Vonn’s fate at these Olympics will be determined after she tests her leg in Thursday’s downhill training session.