Lindsey Vonn to undergo double knee MRI exams on Monday

It was a short day in the Winter Park sun for ski racer Lindsey Vonn as the reigning World Cup overall champion skied out early in the first run of the U.S. National Championship giant slalom.

Even for a DNF, hundreds of Vonn’s fans cheered her arrival to the finish area and packed in for an autograph. Though the Colorado local flashed a toothy smile for photos, she also admitted to being tired following yet another record-breaking season on the grueling World Cup tour.  

“I am really happy, for me personally and professionally, it was a great season,” said Vonn. “I’m excited that it’s over, it’s been a long year for sure and I am definitely physically very tired so I am excited to have some time off and look back and see what I’ve done.”

Vonn revealed to reporters that she will have MRI exams performed on both of her knees on Monday but declined to comment on how much pain the knees have caused her this season.

“I had some problems this year that I didn’t talk about in the press,” said Vonn. “I don’t really yet how it is because I haven’t had the MRI yet, but I’ll know soon.”

Vonn said she made the drive to Winter Park this morning from her home in Vail, not to win a another trophy but to close her season with her U.S. Ski Team teammates.
 
“This, to me, is more like an exhibition, it’s more about being there for the team I’m not here to prove myself to anyone,” said Vonn. “I’m just here to have fun and be with the team. There is a huge crowd out here today and there are a lot of girls that are really fast so it’s cool to see that.”

Image by Susan Theis