Lindsey Vonn pulls out of World Cup season opener

American superstar Lindsey Vonn, who only returned to full training on Thursday after a serious injury last August, has pulled out of Saturday's season-opening Solden World Cup giant slalom.

"Being back on snow the last two days has been incredible. In the few runs I've had since returning to snow I have felt strong, confident and been skiing without pain," Vonn said Friday on her Facebook account.

"However, the icy conditions on the race hill coupled with the fact that its only been 10 weeks since I fractured my ankle makes me slightly hesitant, and for that reason I have decided not to race tomorrow (Saturday).

"Now my sights are set on the next race in Aspen and then Lake Louise. I can't wait." she added.

The 31-year-old, from Saint Paul, Minnesota, has been the star of women's alpine skiing since making her debut as a 16-year-old in 2000.

A former Olympic champion, she recently broke the all-time World Cup record for victories, when she won her 67th race to overtake Austrian legend Annemarie Moser-Proell.

She has also won six world championship medals, including two golds, and finished on the World Cup podium a record 113 times, winning 19 crystal globes.

Source: AFP