Lindsey Vonn’s coach isn’t sure whether the injured downhill champion will compete again before trying another comeback at the Sochi Olympics in February.
Vonn, competing just weeks after partially tearing her ACL in her right knee, re-injured herself last week during a downhill race in France.
“Her knee was swollen again after Val d’Isere,” U.S. women’s head coach Alex Hoedlmoser told the Associated Press. “She is working with the guys from [her own team] Red Bull and the medical staff to get that under control.”
“There is no decision yet if, or where she’s going to race ahead of the Olympics,” Hoedlmoser noted.
Vonn suffered a crash this past February and was forced to have reconstructive surgery on her right knee – the same one currently plaguing her.
She returned to the World Cup circuit in early December, but last week her knee “completely gave out” and she was forced to glide down the rest of the race in France.
Following last week’s race Vonn said, “I didn’t hurt myself more than I’m already hurt,” and the defending downhill champion still seemed adamant about returning for the Olympics.
“I’m going to play it safe and race minimal races, so I can get the confidence and the timing and the feeling of racing again,” she said last week.
“She has indicated she might try to race Cortina (Jan. 16-19) but it’s too early to say that she’s going to,” the women’s coach said. “Maybe she won’t race at all if she feels she can do without another race in her preparation for Sochi. I think she’s handling it well, and she’s determined to race in Sochi.”
The Olympic downhill, which she won at the last winter Olympics in Vancouver, is February 12.
