Lindsey Vonn to undergo surgery after slope crash

The gold medallist had to be airlifted to hospital after losing her balance and crashing into a safety gate while competing at the Alpine Ski World Championships in Schladming.

She tore two ligaments in her right knee and broke a bone in her lower leg and was released from hospital on Tuesday night.

Vonn will now jet back to America for an operation, but has vowed to be fit enough to attend the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

A statement from the sports star reads, “I plan on returning to Vail (Colorado) as soon as I can to have the necessary surgeries. I can assure you that I will work as hard as humanly possible to be ready to represent my country next year in Sochi.”