The American made the announcement today, exactly one month before the Winter Games are set to get underway in Russia, via social media site Facebook.

In her post, Vonn said she was "devastated" she will not be able to compete at the Games but was hopeful about her chances of competing in next year's World Championships.

"I am devastated to announce that I will not be able to compete in Sochi," she wrote.

"I did everything I possibly could to somehow get strong enough to overcome having no ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) but the reality has sunk in that my knee is just too unstable to compete at this level.

"I'm having surgery soon so that I can be ready for the World Championships at home in Vail next February.

"On a positive note, this means there will be an additional spot so that one of my teammates can go for gold.

"Thank you all so much for all of the love and support.

"I will be cheering for all of the Olympians and especially team USA!"

Lindsey Vonn aggravated her surgically repaired knee during an event at Val-d'Isère in December ©Getty Images


Vonn had hoped to defend the gold medal she won at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games, where she became the first American woman to win an Olympic gold in the downhill event, but has suffered multiple setbacks with her surgically repaired right knee.

In February last year, during the World Championships in Schladming, Austria, Vonn tore the anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament in her right knee and fractured her tibia following a crash in the super-G event.

She underwent surgery but then suffered a further setback during a training run at Colorado's Copper Mountain Resort in November, where she re-tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee.

She then aggravated her knee again in a race at Val-d'Isère, France, on December 21, following a return to World Cup racing in the first week of December, finishing fifth in the super-G and 40th and 11th in a pair of downhill races in Lake Louise, Alberta.

Following her latest announcement, fellow Winter Olympic teammates have expressed their support for the four-time overall World Cup champion with many posting messages on social media site Twitter.

Mikaela Shiffrin will now be one of the United States women's best chances to gain a medal in alpine skiing ©Getty Images

Mikaela Shiffrin, the American teenager who has been labelled as the "next Vonn" by some, wrote on Twitter: "It's hard to swallow that @lindseyvonn won't be competing in Sochi, but I'm incredibly impressed at her determination. She's a true #hero."

Shiffrin is the reigning slalom world champion after claiming gold in the event in Austria last year and, alongside three-time Olympic medallist Julia Mancuso, will now be one of best chances for the United States women to gain a spot on the alpine skiing podium during Sochi 2014.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
December 2013: Vonn may not compete again before Sochi 2014, admits coach
February 2013: Vonn will be back in time for Sochi 2014, claims US Skiing
February 2013: Vonn airlifted to hospital after serious crash at FIS World Championships