Injury is an occupational hazard of skiing. But for American Lindsey Vonn the road to recovery from a serious injury has been a long and painful one......
From the sidelines back to the slopes —
Injury is an occupational hazard of skiing. But for American Lindsey Vonn the road to recovery from a serious injury has been a long and painful one......
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Vonn had to be airlifted off the slopes at this year's World Championships back in February after a horrific knee injury, which led to a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
From the sidelines back to the slopes —
Vonn had to be airlifted off the slopes at this year's World Championships back in February after a horrific knee injury, which led to a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images
Vonn's rehabilitation was overseen by both Red Bull and the U.S. Ski Team, a case of a slowly-slowly approach to make sure no further damage was done to the joint.
From the sidelines back to the slopes —
Vonn's rehabilitation was overseen by both Red Bull and the U.S. Ski Team, a case of a slowly-slowly approach to make sure no further damage was done to the joint.
David Mavro / Red Bull Content Pool
Her return to action was in Chile's Andes Mountains where she insisted her damaged knee felt as good as her unaffected left knee, and that she felt absolutely no fear.
From the sidelines back to the slopes —
Her return to action was in Chile's Andes Mountains where she insisted her damaged knee felt as good as her unaffected left knee, and that she felt absolutely no fear.
Jon Selkowitz/Red Bull Content Pool
Vonn's attempted return to competitive skiing has come under heightened scrutiny because of her relationship with the world's No.1 ranked golfer Tiger Woods.
From the sidelines back to the slopes —
Vonn's attempted return to competitive skiing has come under heightened scrutiny because of her relationship with the world's No.1 ranked golfer Tiger Woods.
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Chemmy Alcott's last accident on the slopes happened the day after Vonn's at Schlamding, Austria. In all, the British skier has now broken her leg on three occasions.
From the sidelines back to the slopes —
Chemmy Alcott's last accident on the slopes happened the day after Vonn's at Schlamding, Austria. In all, the British skier has now broken her leg on three occasions.
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That fall was just two months after her heroic return to World Cup skiing in Lake Louise on the same course where she had crashed. She insists she does not remember the crash that nearly ended her career.
From the sidelines back to the slopes —
That fall was just two months after her heroic return to World Cup skiing in Lake Louise on the same course where she had crashed. She insists she does not remember the crash that nearly ended her career.
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Both Vonn and Alcott both have the same goal in their respective rehabilitation programs, to get back in action and at the top of their game in time for next year's Winter Olympics in Sochi.
From the sidelines back to the slopes —
Both Vonn and Alcott both have the same goal in their respective rehabilitation programs, to get back in action and at the top of their game in time for next year's Winter Olympics in Sochi.
KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP/Getty Images
Not all skiers have come back from the physical and mental scars of their crashes. Austria's Hans Grugger suffered a serious head injury in 2011 but, rather than return, opted to retire from the sport.
From the sidelines back to the slopes —
Not all skiers have come back from the physical and mental scars of their crashes. Austria's Hans Grugger suffered a serious head injury in 2011 but, rather than return, opted to retire from the sport.
CALLE TOERNSTROEM/AFP/Getty Images