Knee injury forces Vonn to miss Sochi Olympics

Lindsey Vonn will miss the Sochi Olympics because of a right knee injury, leaving the Winter Games without one of its biggest stars.

The 29-year-old American girlfriend of golfer Tiger Woods confirmed yesterday she will have surgery shortly.

Vonn said she is “devastated” to miss the Olympics, “but the reality has sunk in that my knee is just too unstable to compete at this level.”

She took home two medals from the 2010 Vancouver Games, including becoming the first American woman to win an Olympic gold in the downhill.

Vonn is also a four-time overall World Cup champion, the most recognised name in Alpine skiing.

But Vonn tore two ligaments in her right knee during a high-speed crash at the world championships last February, sidelining her for about 10 months.

She re-tore her surgically repaired ACL in a training crash in November, a key setback.

Then, after returning to competition in early December by finishing 40th, 11th and fifth in a set of World Cup races at Lake Louise, Alberta, Vonn sprained her MCL during a race at Val d’Isere, France, last month.

“I did everything I possibly could to somehow get strong enough to overcome having no ACL,” Vonn said.

“I’m having surgery soon so that I can be ready for the World Championships at home in Vail next February.”