Lindsey Vonn Leaning On Tiger Woods For Support During Knee Rehab

Lindsey Vonn is on track to return to the ski slopes after a devastating knee injury, and the Olympic gold medalist has Tiger Woods to thank.

Vonna had surgery to repair the right knee, which she injured eight months ago in a violent ski accident. She suffered a torn ACL and MCL, leaving her with a long rehab before she could get back to competing.

That’s the point Lindsey Vonn finds herself at now. Speaking to reporters this week, she said she plans to travel to Austria later in the month for the World Cup opener, and will compete as long as she feels ready.

“Things are definitely further along than I anticipated,” Vonn said the recovery process has been long and trying, but has almost reached its conclusion. “It’s a matter of getting up to 100 percent speed and being able to push it as if I were racing, and I haven’t quite done that yet. Waiting for those last steps before taking the plunge to racing again.”Vonn admitted she’s not sure how the knee will respond to the speed of competition, however.”It’s not that I don’t trust my knee or don’t feel 100 percent physically up to par,” Vonn said. “I just haven’t pushed it to that next level.”

In September Vonn hit the slopes for the first time since the injury.

“I’ve crashed a lot in my career, and I’m just getting back up as fast as I can,” Vonn said at the time. “Unfortunately it’s taken me seven months to get back up this time, but I was really excited to get out there today. … It just feels like the right time, and my body feels ready.”

In the interview this week Vonn told reporters that she has her support system to thank for her recovery, a team that includes boyfriend Tiger Woods. During her period of inactivity Vonn has also been a supportive girlfriend, making it to all of Tiger’s big tournaments .