Olympics

Vonn to have surgery in US next week

Share This Story

Updated Feb 6, 2013 12:29 PM ET
     
 

SCHLADMING, Austria (AP)

Lindsey Vonn will head home for surgery in Colorado next week after tearing two ligaments in her right knee and breaking a bone in her lower leg in a crash at the world championships.

U.S. Ski Team physician William Sterett was with Vonn on the snow after the crash on Tuesday, then at a Schladming hospital where she was airlifted to.

ON THE SCENE

Skier Lindsey Vonn is airlifted off the slopes after a super-G crash. See photos.

"She'll be heading back to Vail and I will be doing surgery on her knee early next week," Sterett told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Vonn was released from the hospital late Tuesday and returned to the team hotel.

"Lindsey is doing well. I just finished seeing her," said Sterett, who has been treating Vonn since she was a child. "She's in good spirits."

Vonn tore her anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament in her right knee. The broken bone was described as a lateral tibial plateau fracture.

"The fracture is called an impaction fracture," Sterett said. "It should not require any surgery. It just needs to be non-weight on crutches."

Sterett would not set a return date to skiing for Vonn until after the surgery.

TOUGH BREAK

Skier Lindsey Vonn injures her leg during her super-G run and is airlifted off the slopes. See the crash.

Other doctors have speculated that Vonn could be looking at six to eight months before she's back on skis.

The team said the four-time overall champion will be back for the next World Cup season and will compete at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

The harrowing accident came after Vonn landed off a jump in the opening race at the championships, the super-G. As she hit the ground, her right leg gave way and she spun down face first, throwing an arm out to protect herself. She ended up on her back as she smashed through a gate.

"The hospital staff did an excellent job with X-rays, MRI," Sterett said. "She had very good care and they were very, very helpful."

Sterett said Vonn was "a little banged up, and sore everywhere," without going into details on her bruises.

ALL-AMERICAN GIRL

Skier Lindsey Vonn is pure gold. Check out her photos.

"She's in good spirits and upbeat. She's intently focusing on the next step and the next step now is getting from point A to point B, with point B being next season," he said. "She's determined and upbeat."

Sterett left open the possibility of Vonn requiring more than one surgery, saying that with these types of injuries "that's always a possibility." However, the plan for now was only one operation.

Due to intense media attention, Sterett would not say when Vonn will leave Schladming.

Related Stories

Member Comments

Please note by clicking on "Post comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be Polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.

powered by

Trending Now

Stories | Photos | Lists | Videos

OLYMPIC VIDEOS

Olympian charged with murder

Posted: Feb 14, 2013
Olympian and Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius arrested and charged in shootin...

Roundtable: Improving the Olympics

Posted: Jul 26, 2012
FOXSports.com's Christian Laettner, Dominique Dawes, Maurice Greene and Amy Van ...

Roundtable: Who's the star of USA Basketball?

Posted: Jul 15, 2012
Who will be the star of USA Basketball? Maurice Green, Amy Van Dyken and Billy W...

Remarkable Moments: Olympics Day 16

Posted: Aug 12, 2012
FOXSports.com's Christian Laettner shares Day 16's Remarkable Moments.

Inside Edge: USA - Spain Recap

Posted: Aug 12, 2012
Christian Laettner recaps Team USA's Gold-medal win over Spain.
MORE OLYMPICS VIDEO

Fox Sports Store

    itemName itemURL imageSrc price itemDescription
    USA Swimming White Dive T-shirt http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Olympics_USA_Swimming/browse/featuredproduct/616903/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_616000/ff_616903_xl.jpg&w=100 17.95 USA Swimming White Dive T-shirt
    USA Swimming Navy Blue Splash T-shirt http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Olympics_USA_Swimming/browse/featuredproduct/616928/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_616000/ff_616928_xl.jpg&w=100 17.95 USA Swimming Navy Blue Splash T-shirt
    USA Swimming Ladies White Dive Slim Fit T-shirt http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Olympics_USA_Swimming/browse/featuredproduct/616940/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_616000/ff_616940_xl.jpg&w=100 18.95 USA Swimming Ladies White Dive Slim Fit T-shirt
    USA Swimming Ladies Navy Blue Splash Slim Fit T-shirt http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Olympics_USA_Swimming/browse/featuredproduct/616959/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_616000/ff_616959_xl.jpg&w=100 18.95 USA Swimming Ladies Navy Blue Splash Slim Fit T-shirt
    USA Swimming Light Blue Swimmer T-shirt http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Olympics_USA_Swimming/browse/featuredproduct/616971/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_616000/ff_616971_xl.jpg&w=100 17.95 USA Swimming Light Blue Swimmer T-shirt
    Team USA 2012 Winter Olympic Games Innsbruck T-Shirt - Navy Blue http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Olympics_USA/browse/featuredproduct/685844/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_685000/ff_685844_xl.jpg&w=100 22.95 Team USA 2012 Winter Olympic Games Innsbruck T-Shirt - Navy Blue
    USA Curling Dare T-Shirt - Ash http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Olympics_USA_Curling/browse/featuredproduct/697577/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_697000/ff_697577_xl.jpg&w=100 18.95 USA Curling Dare T-Shirt - Ash
    USA Curling Dare T-Shirt - White http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Olympics_USA_Curling/browse/featuredproduct/697578/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_697000/ff_697578_xl.jpg&w=100 18.95 USA Curling Dare T-Shirt - White
    USA Curling House T-Shirt - Ash http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Olympics_USA_Curling/browse/featuredproduct/697581/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_697000/ff_697581_xl.jpg&w=100 18.95 USA Curling House T-Shirt - Ash
    USA Curling House T-Shirt - White http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Olympics_USA_Curling/browse/featuredproduct/697582/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_697000/ff_697582_xl.jpg&w=100 18.95 USA Curling House T-Shirt - White
Microsoft© 2013 Microsoft