Lindsey Vonn ends season after second scan reveals more serious knee injury

Vonn, who is leading the current overall World Cup standings, had initially hoped the injury was not serious enough to prevent her competing - even making the start line at the super-combined in Soldeu, where she ultimately finished 13th - but a follow-up scan on the knee revealed the full extent of the damage.

The 31-year-old has suffered multiple significant fractures to her knee, with any further damage potentially leading her to require career-threatening surgery.

On the advice of doctors, and after weighing up her own priorities, the American has decided to end her season prematurely in order to preserve her prospects heading into next season's World Championships and the 2018 Winter Olympics.

"Today I am making the difficult decision to end my season and leave the World Cup circuit due to an injury I suffered last Saturday," she said. "Because I am currently leading the Overall World Cup standings, this is one of the toughest decisions of my career.

"When I crashed on Saturday in Andorra, I fractured my tibial plateau. The traditional X-rays that were taken that afternoon showed a hairline fracture, but the tibial plateau appeared to be stable and did not pose significant risk to competing.

"So I raced on Sunday. After the Super Combined on Sunday, I went to Barcelona where more precise MRI and CT equipment was available and scans were performed on Tuesday morning.

"Those images showed that there was not just one hairline fracture, but in fact three. And the fractures are not hairline, but instead they are significant enough that they are not sufficiently stable to permit me to safely continue skiing.

"Further damage any of the fragments could result in a serious surgery that would risk my future in ski racing. With the World Championships in St. Moritz next year and the Winter Olympics in South Korea the following year, I cannot take that risk.

"So I have made the decision to end my season.

"I am very proud of what I have been able to accomplish this year: nine World Cup victories, breaking the World Cup downhill win record, breaking the World Cup Super G podium record, and winning the most World Cup discipline titles - 20 - of any skier, male or female. While I am confident that I'm making the right decision, it still doesn't make this decision any easier.

"Thanks to everyone who supported me and stood by me through it all. Best of luck to all the World Cup competitors. I'll see you again next year."

Vonn won a record 20th World Cup trophy last month when she clinched the downhill crown.

She has won 76 World Cup races and has been chasing Swedish great Ingemar Stenmark's record of 86 as well as a fifth overall World Cup crown.

She leads Switzerland's Lara Gut by 28 points in the overall standings.