Berlin (AFP) – US ski queen Lindsey Vonn admits she is conscious of reinjuring the arm she broke last November when her quest for medals begins at next week’s world skiing championships.
“I have not changed my racing style, but if I were to fall, I was told I should keep my arm close to my body, if at all possible,” Vonn told German magazine Sport Bild.
“The risk of breaking the arm again in a fall is very high. I’m ready to take the risk and have absolutely no doubts about my decision.”
Vonn walked away from a crash in Saturday’s downhill at Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.
The 32-year-old will be racing at the world championships in St Moritz, Switzerland from Monday until February 19, where she will be battling last year’s Swiss overall World Cup winner Lara Gut for downhill gold.
“A medal in St Moritz would be the cherry on top of the cake — the crowning moment of my comeback and a great achievement,” Vonn added with the women’s downhill race on February 12.
She has had just five World Cup races back since breaking her right arm in training last year, which followed a fractured knee in February 2016.
Vonn claimed the 77th World Cup win of her career — leaving her just nine short of the all-time record — 10 days ago at Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
However, she finished 12th in the super-G at Cortina d’Ampezzo on Sunday after her downhill crash the day before in the same venue.
Vonn says her double injuries in 2016 have taken a toll.
“I feel a bit like the bionic woman, but I wouldn’t change a thing if I could start my career all over again,” she said.
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