Lindsey Vonn crashed in the women's downhill competition at the Winter Olympics as fellow American Breezy Johnson won an emotional gold in Cortina.
Vonn, 41, was competing nine days after rupturing ligaments in her left knee, but hitting the gate on her first jump left her off balance, and her dreams of winning a medal in what she said will be her final Olympic downhill were over.
World champion Johnson was in tears as her gold medal was confirmed after she clocked a blistering time of one minute 36.10 seconds. Vonn had been unsure what her knee was capable of withstanding but had targeted the downhill as her favored event.
Stunned spectators applauded towards the helicopter as it carried her away from the piste, with Vonn unsure how her knee could endure the runs. Despite the setback, her comeback story and competitive spirit have left an impact, culminating in a disappointing end to her illustrious Olympic journey.
