U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn suffered from a "complex knee injury" and was airlifted to a hospital after a crash during the super-G at the Alpine Ski World Championships in Austria on Tuesday. She will be out for the remainder of the season. Vonn, 28, won the downhill gold in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver and is a four-time overall Alpine Ski World Cup champion. Here's a look at her rise to a household name for winter sports fans.
Ski champion Lindsey Vonn —
U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn suffered from a "complex knee injury" and was airlifted to a hospital after a crash during the super-G at the Alpine Ski World Championships in Austria on Tuesday. She will be out for the remainder of the season. Vonn, 28, won the downhill gold in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver and is a four-time overall Alpine Ski World Cup champion. Here's a look at her rise to a household name for winter sports fans.
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Vonn is lifted by a helicopter during the women's super-G event during the Alpine FIS Ski World Championships on Tuesday, February 5, 2013, in Schladming, Austria.
Ski champion Lindsey Vonn —
Vonn is lifted by a helicopter during the women's super-G event during the Alpine FIS Ski World Championships on Tuesday, February 5, 2013, in Schladming, Austria.
FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images
Vonn skis before crashing while competing on February 5.
Ski champion Lindsey Vonn —
Vonn skis before crashing while competing on February 5.
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Vonn is airlifted on February 5.
Ski champion Lindsey Vonn —
Vonn is airlifted on February 5.
FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images
Vonn is airlifted on February 5.
Ski champion Lindsey Vonn —
Vonn is airlifted on February 5.
FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images
Lindsey Kildow, who became Vonn by marriage, of the USA Ski team poses for a portrait in 2001.
Ski champion Lindsey Vonn —
Lindsey Kildow, who became Vonn by marriage, of the USA Ski team poses for a portrait in 2001.
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Kildow rides the lift with Maria Riesch of Germany during training for the FIS Alpine Skiing Women's World Cup Race on December 8, 2005, in Aspen, Colorado.
Ski champion Lindsey Vonn —
Kildow rides the lift with Maria Riesch of Germany during training for the FIS Alpine Skiing Women's World Cup Race on December 8, 2005, in Aspen, Colorado.
Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
Kildow poses with her trophy, a cow, in Val d'Isere, France, after winning her second World Cup in the women's downhill event on December 17, 2005.
Ski champion Lindsey Vonn —
Kildow poses with her trophy, a cow, in Val d'Isere, France, after winning her second World Cup in the women's downhill event on December 17, 2005.
OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/Getty Images
Kildow catches air during the women's downhill World Cup in Val d'Isere, France, on December 20, 2006.
Ski champion Lindsey Vonn —
Kildow catches air during the women's downhill World Cup in Val d'Isere, France, on December 20, 2006.
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Vonn gets ready to start her FIS Ski World Cup women's downhill training in Aspen, Colorado, on December 5, 2007.
Ski champion Lindsey Vonn —
Vonn gets ready to start her FIS Ski World Cup women's downhill training in Aspen, Colorado, on December 5, 2007.
EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images
Vonn cruises down the mountain during the slalom event in the women's super combined at the FIS alpine skiing world cup on March 9, 2008, in Crans-Montana.
Ski champion Lindsey Vonn —
Vonn cruises down the mountain during the slalom event in the women's super combined at the FIS alpine skiing world cup on March 9, 2008, in Crans-Montana.
FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images
Vonn competes in the women's slalom first run on March 13, 2009, at the Ski World Cup finals in Are, Spain.
Ski champion Lindsey Vonn —
Vonn competes in the women's slalom first run on March 13, 2009, at the Ski World Cup finals in Are, Spain.
OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/Getty Images
Vonn celebrates with her gold medal during the medal ceremony for the alpine skiing ladies downhill in the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics on February 17, 2010 in Whistler, Canada.
Ski champion Lindsey Vonn —
Vonn celebrates with her gold medal during the medal ceremony for the alpine skiing ladies downhill in the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics on February 17, 2010 in Whistler, Canada.
Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images
Vonn accepts the award for Best Female Athlete onstage at The 2011 ESPY Awards on July 13, 2011, in Los Angeles.
Ski champion Lindsey Vonn —
Vonn accepts the award for Best Female Athlete onstage at The 2011 ESPY Awards on July 13, 2011, in Los Angeles.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Vonn takes first place during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup for women's giant slalom on October 22, 2011, in Soelden, Austria.
Ski champion Lindsey Vonn —
Vonn takes first place during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup for women's giant slalom on October 22, 2011, in Soelden, Austria.
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Vonn starts in the FIS World Cup women's downhill training on January 13, 2012, in Cortina d'Ampezzo.
Ski champion Lindsey Vonn —
Vonn starts in the FIS World Cup women's downhill training on January 13, 2012, in Cortina d'Ampezzo.
ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP/Getty Images
Vonn makes a jump during the FIS World Cup women's downhill in Tarvisio on March 5, 2011. Vonn won the downhill World Cup title for the fourth year in a row.
Ski champion Lindsey Vonn —
Vonn makes a jump during the FIS World Cup women's downhill in Tarvisio on March 5, 2011. Vonn won the downhill World Cup title for the fourth year in a row.
DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP/Getty Images
Vonn in action during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup women's downhill training on February 3, 2012, in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.
Ski champion Lindsey Vonn —
Vonn in action during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup women's downhill training on February 3, 2012, in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.
Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom/Getty Images
Vonn shows her first-place trophy during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup for the women's super-G on February 26, 2012, in Bansko, Bulgaria.
Ski champion Lindsey Vonn —
Vonn shows her first-place trophy during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup for the women's super-G on February 26, 2012, in Bansko, Bulgaria.
Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom/Getty Images
Vonn arrives at the 2012 ESPY Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on July 11, 2012, in Los Angeles.
Ski champion Lindsey Vonn —
Vonn arrives at the 2012 ESPY Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on July 11, 2012, in Los Angeles.
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Vonn sprays powder during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup women's downhill on January 19, 2013, in Cortina D'ampezzo, Italy. She took first place.
Ski champion Lindsey Vonn —
Vonn sprays powder during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup women's downhill on January 19, 2013, in Cortina D'ampezzo, Italy. She took first place.
Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom/Getty Images
From left, Tina Maze of Slovenia who came in second, Vonn who took first, and Anna Fenninger of Austria who took third celebrate after the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup for women's giant slalom on January 26, 2013, in Maribor, Slovenia.
Ski champion Lindsey Vonn —
From left, Tina Maze of Slovenia who came in second, Vonn who took first, and Anna Fenninger of Austria who took third celebrate after the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup for women's giant slalom on January 26, 2013, in Maribor, Slovenia.
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