Skier Lindsey Vonn Pulls Out of Sochi Olympics

Published
Getty Images

Olympic gold-medal skier Lindsey Vonn announced Tuesday that she won't be attending the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi because of a lingering knee injury suffered during a race about a year ago in Austria. 

"I am devastated to announce that I will not be able to compete in Sochi. I did everything I possibly could to somehow get strong enough to overcome having no ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) but the reality has sunk in that my knee is just too unstable to compete at this level," 
the 29-year-old Vonn said in a message on her official website. 

PICS: They Dated?! Surprising Celebrity Hookups

"On a positive note, this means there will be an additional spot so that one of my teammates can go for gold. Thank you all so much for all of the love and support. I will be cheering for all of the Olympians and especially team USA!" she added.

Vonn -- who was sidelined from competition after tearing ligaments in her
right knee after a crash last February on a course during the FIS Alpine
World Championships in Schladming, Austria -- said she'll undergo knee surgery soon with hopes of making a full recovery in time for the 2014/15 World Cup season and the 2015 World Alpine Ski Championships in Vail, CO.

RELATED: Lindsey Vonn & Tiger Woods Confirm Relationship