Alpine skiing-Vonn's crash and scream change face of the day in Cortina

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy, Feb 8 : A roar ran through the crowd as Lindsey Vonn flashed on to the giant screen, head bowed, poles poised, every movement charged with intent at the Winter Olympics on Sunday.

In less than 20 seconds the momentum shattered — her right arm caught a gate, she lost her balance and she crashed hard on to the snow.

The American's cry of pain rang down the mountainside and the grandstand’s celebration collapsed into a single, stunned breath. What had begun in bright cheers for the Italian Alpine skiers and for Vonn dissolved, in an instant, into a deep silence over the finish area.

The U.S. team at the Milano Cortina Games had not anticipated such a drama unfolding when they got up on Sunday morning, with the 41-year-old Vonn heading back to the start hut despite injuring her knee in a crash just nine days ago.

“We were all very excited. There was a sense of calm, of course some nerves, but everyone felt ready and really wanted it today,” teammate Bella Wright said.

“Jackie (Jacqueline Wiles) and I were at the top, so we saw it happen live. You never want that for anyone — and especially not for your teammate, for Lindsey. She deserved a better ending than that. I’m heartbroken for her. But if anyone can come back from something like this, it’s Lindsey. She’s incredibly strong, and we’ll support her in every way we can.”

Breezy Johnson had already charged down the Olimpia delle Tofane course to seize her first Olympic title before Vonn was airlifted to a hospital in Cortina, the crowd rising in applause as the helicopter whirred across the bright sky above the stands.

“It’s a tough road, it’s a tough sport. She keeps getting injured so badly but she keeps coming back for more,” said Johnson, the second