Lindsey Vonn has suffered a fractured left leg after a serious crash in the downhill final at the Winter Olympics in Cortina.
The American skier fell after her right pole touched an outside gate just before the first timing point, knocking her off balance and causing her to crash hard into the track before rolling over.
She was initially treated at the scene and then transported by medical helicopter to the "Ca' Foncello" hospital in Cortina.
The hospital confirmed that Vonn underwent orthopedic surgery to stabilize the fracture in her left leg and that she is being treated by a multidisciplinary team.
According to the US ski team, the 41-year-old is in stable condition, but a long recovery process is expected.
Vonn aimed to become the oldest skier to win an Olympic medal in alpine skiing.
She had decided to compete just nine days after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her left knee during a World Cup race.
US Ski and Snowboard chief of sports Anouk Patty said the ski legend "will be fine" but recovery will take time, highlighting the high risk of the sport.
Meanwhile, the race was stopped for about 20 minutes after the accident and the gold medal in the downhill was won by her compatriot Breezy Johnson, who said she had received the news that Vonn was supporting her from the medical helicopter./Express newspaper/
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