An International Olympic Committee (IOC) director has issued a statement on Lindsey Vonn after the US skiing legend crashed out of the women's downhill final in Cortina on Sunday.
Vonn suffered a violent crash prior to the first timing line of her run, after her right ski pole clipped one of the outside gates.
The contact forced her off balance and she landed awkwardly on the ground, before then tumbling down the course at high speed.
She was airlifted to the Ca' Foncello Hospital in Trevino, where she underwent what the hospital stated to be an 'orthapaedic operation' to stabilise a left leg fracture.
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Vonn declared that she would compete in the women's downhill final despite having suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her left knee in a crash at a World Cup event, which occurred just nine days before the Olympics.
She stated that her ACL had been '100% ruptured', but still managed to complete two training runs before competing in Cortina.
Furthermore, her time in training was the third-quickest out of anyone in the field, and just 0.38 seconds behind her team-mate and eventual gold medallist Breezy Johnson.
IOC sports director Pierre Ducrey told Sky News reporter Rob Harris that the Olympic governing body had no input into Vonn's decision on whether to race - with Vonn herself already confirming that she and her coaching team made the call independently.
"She was able to train and made the choice with the excellent team that she has to take part," Ducrey said.
"This decision was really hers and her team to take. She made the decision and unfortunately it led to the injury."
Despite Ducrey's comments, there is no indication at this stage that the crash was in any way caused by her ACL injury.
IOC president Kirsty Coventry has also commented on Vonn's crash, stating that she is an 'incredible inspiration'.
"Dear Lindsey," she wrote. "We're all thinking of you.
"You are an incredible inspiration, and will always be an Olympic champion."
Vonn, who won the women's downhill final at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, had retired in 2018 but returned to alpine skiing six years later with the aim of competing in the Olympics once again.
As well as the downhill, she had also entered the super-G and team events in Cortina but, even prior to her violent crash on Sunday, had not committed to competing in them due to the ACL injury.
Topics: Olympics
Ryan Smart