Vail's Vonn escapes major injury in fall

VAIL — World Cup overall and downhill champion Lindsey Vonn of Vail fell during training for super-G Wednesday at Copper Mountain.

She was seen at the Steadman-Hawkins Clinic at the Vail Valley Medical Center and released Wednesday afternoon pending further observation by doctors.

According to U.S. Ski Team medical director Richard Quincy, she was seen by the U.S. Women’s Alpine Ski Team’s Dr. William Sterett who indicated that she suffered a bruised left knee; there was no ligament or cartilage damage.

Vonn didn't join the majority of the U.S. Ski Team, Thursday morning, as it continued its training at Copper.

"She's getting treatment for the inflamation over the next few days and will then be reevaluated by the U.S. Ski Team medical staff to determine when she can get back on snow," U.S. Ski Team press officer Doug Haney said Thursday.

Her strength in the speed events, Vonn started her overall title defense last weekend with a slalom win in Levi, Finland.

Already the most accomplished women’s skier in U.S. history, Vonn had returned to Colorado to train in anticipation of the North American leg of the World Cup tour, including the Aspen Winternational races over Thanksgiving weekend. Haney said her status for Aspen would be determined Monday.

After a giant slalom and slalom in Aspen, Vonn’s next events are downhills and a super-G Dec. 5-7 at Lake Lousie, Alberta, where she has been utterly dominant. She has four World Cup wins in as many years at Lake Louise.

The U.S. Alpine Team will continue to train in Summit County until Friday, before breaking for the Thanksgiving holiday.