SAALBACH-HINTERGLEMM, Austria (AP) 鈥 Lindsey Vonn's opening race at the Alpine skiing world championships lasted all of 25 seconds.
The American got caught on the 11th gate of the on Thursday, causing her to briefly lose feeling in her right arm and leaving her 鈥渁 little banged up.鈥
Vonn competed despite that prompted her to use a nebulizer to try to clear up her sinuses.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 make it that far but until I went out I skied well and I had enough energy to be in a solid position,鈥 Vonn said. "So it is what it is. It鈥檚 bad timing, but that鈥檚 life.鈥
It was the third time in the last four races of Vonn's comeback with that she didn't finish.
So is the American standout considering sitting out at all to improve her health?
Not quite.
Vonn said she'll be back on Friday for the final training session before racing in the downhill on Saturday. After that, she's scheduled to compete in on Tuesday.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 wait six years to be staying in bed because I鈥檓 sick. I鈥檓 going to be out there and I鈥檓 having fun," Vonn said. "Maybe it鈥檚 not the result I wanted but I was in the starting gate and I was enjoying it. I was focused. I had a great time. I just wish it would have been a better result 鈥 (But) I have another chance on Saturday.鈥
Vonn is scrambling to figure out her new equipment, having returned to the circuit in December after nearly six years of retirement.
She started with the No. 30 bib after all of the favorites and was charging so hard that she cut her line too tight and got caught coming around a right turn.
The gate pressed on her forearm near her pink-colored arm guard, locked her elbow by her side and pushed the whole arm back with pressure on her shoulder. Vonn avoided falling and was able to stop but then grasped her arm.
鈥淚鈥檓 OK. I hit my nerve somehow and I hit the gate and lost feeling in my arm but it鈥檚 coming back slowly,鈥 Vonn said.
Spectators in the finish area let out a collective gasp of astonishment and grew silent with concern at Vonn鈥檚 mishap. But she eventually skied down to the finish and waved to the crowd with her hurt arm.
Vonn had posted the 16th-fastest time at the first check point.
鈥淚 just went a little too early into the gate and I hooked my arm," Vonn said. "But I felt good on the upper section. I tried a different boot today, so I think my timing was a little bit off. I took a gamble. It didn鈥檛 pay off. But I鈥檒l do the training run tomorrow. Again, try a different material, and hopefully they鈥檒l be better and I鈥檒l be in a good position for Saturday.鈥
Vonn said she's been using a nebulizer 鈥渏ust to try to get some humidity and try to get my nose and lungs to clear up.鈥
鈥淚t鈥檚 a little hard to breathe,鈥 she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 not feeling great. Energy is pretty low."
Still, Vonn stayed out to join 22-year-old Lauren Macuga for the podium celebration after her much younger American teammate tied for third and secured a medal in her first world championship race 鈥 a feat that not even Vonn accomplished two decades ago at her first worlds.
鈥淚 am really excited for Lauren, she skied amazing. I鈥檓 really proud of her,鈥 Vonn said.
These are Vonn's ninth worlds but her first since the 2019 edition when she won bronze in downhill in her final race before retirement. The American has won two golds at the worlds, having swept the super-G and downhill in Val d'Isere, France, in 2009, and has an overall haul of eight medals.
Vonn is also the 2010 Olympic downhill champion and has two bronze medals from the Olympics.
, Vonn said the main goal of her comeback is to compete at next year's Milan-Cortina Olympics, when women's skiing will be held in Cortina d'Ampezzo, the Italian resort where Vonn holds the record with 12 wins.
Thursday marks for the next Winter Games.
___
Associated Press writer Eric Willemsen in Vienna contributed to this report.
___
AP skiing:
