Lindsey Vonn's long-awaited return to Olympic skiing came to a devastating conclusion during the women's downhill final in Cortina, as the American veteran crashed out of the competition in distressing circumstances.
The 41-year-old former Olympic champion had barely begun her run when disaster struck, losing control of her skis merely 13 seconds after leaving the start gate.
Vonn was sent tumbling to the ground in a horrifying incident that brought an abrupt end to her remarkable comeback bid following a six-year absence from competitive skiing.
The crash left spectators stunned as the decorated athlete lay motionless on the Italian slopes, before later being airlifted to hospital.
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Vonn had made her return to the sport after stepping away from competition six years ago, defying expectations by attempting to race at the highest level once more.
Her participation in Cortina was all the more extraordinary given the circumstances surrounding her preparation for the Games.
Just nine days before the downhill final, the American had suffered a ruptured ACL during a training session crash, an injury that would typically sideline any athlete for months.
Lindsey Vonn's long-awaited return to Olympic skiing came to a devastating conclusion during the women's downhill final in Cortina, as the American veteran crashed out of the competition in distressing circumstances
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Despite the severity of the ligament damage, the 41-year-old pressed ahead with her Olympic ambitions, determined to compete on the world stage once again.
The sequence of events unfolded rapidly as Vonn navigated past the second corner of the course before catastrophe struck.
After clearing the turn, she accelerated over a hill but was unable to maintain her line, veering off course at high speed.
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Lindsey Vonn crashed while competing at the Winter Olympics with a serious ACL injury | REUTERSThe American collided with one of the plastic markers positioned along the edge of the track before being thrown to the ground.
Her skis remained attached to her boots as she lay on the slope, her body contorted in obvious distress.
Witnesses observed the stricken skier grimacing as her head fell backwards, clearly suffering from the impact of the fall.
The Cortina crowd was plunged into silence as the gravity of the situation became apparent, with emergency personnel racing across the slope to reach the fallen athlete.
Medical teams quickly surrounded Vonn as she remained on the ground, her cries of pain audible to those watching the harrowing scene unfold.
Lindsey Vonn was airlifted to hospital after her crash
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The distressing sounds of the American weeping could be heard as medics worked to assess her condition on the mountainside.
It marked a cruel end to what had seemed an impossible feat – returning to Olympic competition after tearing her anterior cruciate ligament in the days leading up to the Games.
Vonn is yet to speak after the incident.
The Winter Olympics runs from February 6 to February 22.