Alpine skiing-Vonn says Olympic dream not over yet despite crashing in Crans-Montana

CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland, Jan 30 : U.S. Alpine ski great Lindsey Vonn said her dream of competing at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics was not over yet despite being taken to hospital for checks earlier on Friday after a crash at the World Cup downhill.

Organisers cancelled the race in worsening conditions with snow falling and Vonn, leader of the downhill standings, the sixth and last of those out of the start hut.

"I crashed today in the Downhill race in Switzerland and injured my left knee," Vonn said on social media just days before the start of the Winter Olympics in Italy.

"I am discussing the situation with my doctors and team and will continue to undergo further exams. This is a very difficult outcome a week before the Olympics... but if there is one thing I know how to do, it's a comeback."

The Olympics kick off on February 6 with the opening ceremony in Milan's San Siro stadium. 

"My Olympic dream is not over. Thank you for all the love and support. It's not over until it's over," Vonn said.

The 41-year-old, in winning form as she prepares for an age-defying Olympic comeback next week, lost her balance on Friday and crashed into the side netting, with her airbag inflating.

She was able to get back up on her skis but was seemingly in pain from her left leg, stopping at one point to clutch her knee.

"She has some pain so it's better to have some checks, the physio did some checks they seemed OK but there were things he was not 100 per cent sure so it was good to have it checked (at the hospital)," two-time Olympic champion Aksel Lund Svindal, Vonn's coach this season, told Reuters.  

She was comforted at the finish by teammate Jacqueline Wiles.

Three of the first six skiers down the piste, shortened due to weather