Team USA Skier’s Run Cut Short at Olympics

Another Team USA skier faced an early exit during the competition at the Tofane Alpine Ski Center in Cortina. Just days after Lindsey Vonn’s serious accident, where she broke her leg, teammate Vera Wright ended her run at the same spot during the women’s combined event.

Wright, 28, managed to avoid a crash but became too aggressive, getting too close to the gate and losing her balance mid-air. Unable to correct her trajectory, she ended up veering left at the next gate and stopping where Vonn did.

“I really tried to skate with a little more momentum and generate some speed from there, and I was able to do that. But because of that, my line was too straight, and I missed the next gate,” Wright explained.

Wright’s attempt to gain speed perhaps stemmed from her disappointment over placing 21st in the women’s downhill event. During that same race, Vonn hit the fourth gate with her shoulder, leading to a severe tibia fracture just moments into her run.

The shocking scene saw the 41-year-old skier, who had previously overcome a torn ACL, being airlifted to Treviso’s Cafoncello Hospital for multiple surgeries.

In a recent Instagram post, she mentioned being “5 inches too tight” while chasing gold in an event she had previously won at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Breezy Johnson, another American skier who recently made history by winning an Olympic downhill gold medal, managed to avoid mishaps during her run. She clocked the fastest time of the session in the women’s combined event.

Johnson remarked that no one is familiar with the “very bumpy” area around Gate 4, stating, “I lost control right then and there.” She noted the odd nature of the location, saying that one misplaced move can completely throw things off.