Lindsey Vonn crashed in the women’s downhill at the Winter Olympics, while fellow American Breezy Johnson won a thrilling gold medal in Cortina.

Vonn, 41, competed nine days after rupturing ligaments in her left knee but hit a gate on her first jump, knocking her off balance and dashing her dreams of winning a medal in what she said would be her last Olympic downhill event.

Vonn successfully completed two training sessions on the iconic Olympia del Tofane circuit but was airlifted off the slopes after a lengthy period of care.

World champion Johnson was in tears after winning the gold medal in a stunning time of 1 minute, 36.10 seconds.

The 30-year-old put her head in her hands and watched her teammates fall on the big screen at the finish line, where she had finished sixth and Vonn in 13th.

Germany’s Emma Aicher won the silver medal by 0.04 seconds, while Italy’s Sofia Goggia took the bronze.

Vonn takes a huge risk heading into Sunday’s game having suffered an ACL injury in her final World Cup game in Switzerland, but is determined to compete in her favorite event.

The stunned spectators applauded her as the helicopter took her off the piste that has brought her so much success in the past – 12 of her 84 World Cup wins were won there.

Vonn was never sure what her knees would be able to handle, but she made the downhill her favorite event, while also competing in super-G and team events.

She is now unlikely to compete in any games, meaning her Olympic career is almost certainly over.