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American skier Lindsey Vonn has had surgery on a left-leg fracture after suffering heartbreak in what could be her final Olympic event as she crashed in the women’s downhill competition in Cortina.
The 41-year-old was competing just nine days after rupturing ligaments in her left knee, but hitting the gate with her ski pole on a first jump left Vonn off balance, denying a fairytale ending to a remarkable story.
Vonn was airlifted off the piste to Ca Foncello hospital in Treviso, around 130km from Olimpia delle Tofane in the Dolomites, following lengthy treatment.
The hospital issued a statement which said she had “orthopedic surgery to stabilize the fracture she sustained in her left leg” – the same leg with the torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
Why was she allowed to compete with an already known injury
Vf x
I wondered that as well but I believe she finished third in the practice runs. I doubt she would have been allowed to compete if there were any concerns for her safety.
Though I have to say the BBC’s coverage this morning was embarrassing. Hazel Irvine and Chemmy Alcott turned the preview of the event into “The Lindsey Vonn Show”, barely mentioned any of the other competitors and sounded like a pair of over excited fan girls. The coverage should have been impartial and objective, not cheerleading for only one competitor.
There were official concerns including from a doctor who discussed her ruptured ligaments only a few days ago. But, maybe the pressure from outside (Social Media, sponsors) and her ego told her to start.
I also like to think that she was desperately trying to shift the focus of attention from Mikaela Shiffrin (who holds the record for the most wins in alpine competitions with 108) to her. It was an avoidable accident, imo.Vonn issued a statement on social media.
On the one hand, there is something quite refreshing about someone embracing risk in our increasingly risk averse age.
On the other hand, it might have been a nice gesture by her to have thanked the medical staff who attended to her and to have congratulated the winner (perhaps she has in other posts I haven’t seen).
I know a lot of these top sports people have egos the size of mansions – maybe that is why they are so good at what they do – but the statement is all about her. She does come across as something of a narcissist.
I also couldn’t help feeling it was a case of a once top performer raging against the dying of the light. This was her last chance to be competitive and she wanted to risk everything to take it.
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