Injured World Cup leader Vonn says season is over

Alpine skier Lindsey Vonn of the U.S. speaks during a news conference at Hotel Park Inn in Stockholm, prior to the Women's World Cup Parallel Slalom in central Stockholm, Sweden, February 23, 2016. REUTERS/Maja Suslin/TT

 

Overall World Cup leader Lindsey Vonn declared her season over due to injury on Wednesday in what she called one of the toughest decisions of her Alpine skiing career.

The 31-year-old said in a statement on her Facebook page that scans on a hairline fracture in her left knee had shown it was far more serious and further damage "could result in a serious surgery that would risk my future in ski racing."

American Vonn won a record 20th World Cup trophy last month when she clinched the downhill crown. She has won 76 World Cup races and has been chasing Swedish great Ingemar Stenmark's record of 86 as well as a fifth overall World Cup crown. She leads Switzerland's Lara Gut by 28 points in the overall standings.