The Vancouver 2010 gold and bronze medallist, 28, had posted the fastest first interval and was having a strong run when she went down off a jump midway down the course during the women's super-G slalom at the international Ski Federation (FIS) Alpine Ski World Championships in Schladming.

Vonn, a four-time World Cup overall champion, received treatment on the slope for 12 minutes before being airlifted to hospital, where she was evaluated and released with injuries that ruled her out of the remainder of the World Cup season.

However, the US is confident in chances of recovering in time for the Sochi Winter Olympics, which get underway in one year's time from tomorrow.

"According to US Ski Team medical director Kyle Wilkens, Vonn suffered a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and MCL (medial collateral ligament) in her right knee and a lateral tibial plateau fracture," A US Ski team statement read.

"She will be out for the remainder of this season but is expected to return to racing for the 2013-14 Audi FIS World Cup season and the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi."

Vonn will undergo surgery in the US in the next week.

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