Lindsey Vonn Injured: Skier Fractures Ankle Training In New Zealand

Lindsey Vonn injured her ankle training in New Zealand this week, perhaps putting a roadblock in her path to the 2018 Winter Olympics, MSN is reporting.

The 30-year-old Vonn has been hitting the slopes in New Zealand — it’s winter in the Southern Hemisphere — in her first on-snow practice for the upcoming season. In a tweet, Vonn described her injury as “minor.”

Unfortunately I crashed today and have a small fracture in my ankle. Headed home now but will keep u posted. #minorsetback #cantslowmedown

— lindsey vonn (@lindseyvonn) August 13, 2015

A few hours later, Vonn posted a photo of herself getting ready to board a plane home, putting on, as she describes it, “my best pout face,” sitting in a wheelchair with her injured ankle in a boot.

“See ya later New Zealand #meandmywheelchair #mybestpoutface #ankleproblems #30hoursuntiligethome”

Lindsey also mentioned her injury on her personal website, promising fans that she’d keep them updated as often as she could.

“Hey guys, I unfortunately crashed today while training in New Zealand. I have a small fracture in my ankle and have to head back to the states now. I will let you know when I have more info. Xo Lv”

Fortunately for Lindsey Vonn, as much as her career has been plagued by injuries, it’s also been noted for her ability to bounce back from them. As Bleacher Report notes, Lindsey was expected to dominate the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, but a severe knee injury put her out of competition. In a January 2014 CNN report, Vonn described her “devastation” at not being able to compete.

“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.”

Vonn has since bounced back from her devastating knee injury to once again dominate women’s skiing at the top levels of competition. Last season, she won a record seventh World Cup in downhill skiing.

Fortunately for Lindsey Vonn, she’ll have plenty of time to nurse her injured ankle back to health; the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, are still two and a half years away.

[Image courtesy of Getty Images/Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom]