Lindsey Vonn’s first words after Olympic crash | Sports News

Lindsey Vonn directed United States Ski Team coaches to relay her congratulations to teammate Breezy Johnson after struggling a crash during the Winter Olympics alpine snowboarding girls’s downhill last.

The two-time Olympic champion stated: “Lindsey, you’re incredibly brave. You inspire people who follow your journey and us who work closely with you every day. Yesterday was a tough day on the mountains. For everyone, but most of all for you.

“Still, one thing occurred that I feel says the whole lot, ‘Tell Breezy congrats and good job.’ Your teammate was within the lead, and that is the message you needed the U.S. Ski Team coaches to recollect earlier than you bought airlifted to the hospital. Real character reveals up within the onerous moments. Big congrats to Breezy Johnson for the gold. Jacqueline Wiles, that was a great run, and to tug that off after ready within the begin when Lindsey crashed… Congrats to the U.S. Ski Team employees, and thanks for the nice cooperation this winter.”

Johnson had previously shared: “Her coach stated she was cheering for me within the helicopter, so I hope for the best for her. I hope that it isn’t too unhealthy. My coronary heart aches for her. It’s such a brutal sport typically.” In a subsequent statement, she expressed: “I want you all of the best, and I hope to see you back. What you’ve already achieved is a lot, it’s unbelievable, and my coronary heart hurts for you, and I want you all of the best.”

Vonn later conveyed her feelings on social media, stating: “Yesterday, my Olympic dream didn’t end the way in which I dreamt it will. It wasn’t a storybook finish or a fairytale; it was simply life. I dared to dream and had labored so onerous to realize it.

“Because in downhill skiing, the difference between a strategic line and a catastrophic injury can be as small as five inches. I was simply five inches too tight on my line when my right arm hooked inside the gate, twisting me and causing my crash.

“My ACL and previous accidents had nothing to do with my crash in any way. Unfortunately, I sustained a advanced tibia fracture that’s at present secure however will require a number of surgical procedures to repair correctly.

“While yesterday did not end the way I had hoped, and despite the intense physical pain it caused, I have no regrets. Standing in the starting gate yesterday was an incredible feeling that I will never forget. Knowing I stood there having a chance to win was a victory in and of itself.

“I additionally knew that racing was a risk. It has all the time been and can all the time be an extremely harmful sport. And much like ski racing, we take dangers in life. We dream. We love. We soar. And typically we fall. Sometimes our hearts are damaged. Sometimes we do not obtain the desires we all know we might have. But that can also be the sweetness of life; we are able to strive. I attempted. I dreamt. I jumped.

“I hope that if you take away anything from my journey, it’s that you all have the courage to dare greatly. Life is too short not to take chances on yourself because the only failure in life is not trying. I believe in you – just as you believed in me.”