U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn suffered from a "complex knee injury" and was airlifted to a hospital after a crash during the super-G at the Alpine Ski World Championships in Austria on Tuesday. She will be out for the remainder of the season. Vonn, 28, won the downhill gold in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver and is a four-time overall Alpine Ski World Cup champion. Here's a look at her rise to a household name for winter sports fans.
(CNN) -- Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn suffered a "complex knee injury" when she crashed during the opening day super-G at the Alpine Ski World Championships in Austria on Tuesday, doctors said.
The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association said the four-time Alpine World Cup champion was airlifted from the race course in Schladming, Austria, to a hospital. She was evaluated and released, according to the U.S. Ski Team.
Vonn, 28, does not need immediate surgery on the "complex torn ligament" in her right knee, said Dr. Christian Kaulfersch, who is treating her at the Schladming Hospital.
U.S. team officials are considering whether she should fly back to the United States or remain in Europe for treatment, he said.
Days earlier: Victorious Vonn closes on World Cup record
The U.S. team's website reported that Vonn will be out for the rest of this season, but is expected to return for the 2013-14 World Cup campaign and next February's Winter Olympics in Sochi.
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Vonn suffered a torn ACL and MCL in her right knee and a lateral tibial plateau fracture, according to ski team medical director Kyle Wilkens.
Vonn wrote in a special column published in The Denver Post that the women's super-G runs might be postponed Tuesday because of weather.
Vonn's injury 'career-delayer,' not 'career-ender'
"I've been trying to be patient and stay calm, but it's pretty tough with the way the weather has been," Vonn wrote. "It snowed a lot Sunday night, there was no training possible Monday on the race hill, then it rained most of Monday afternoon and evening."
The heavy snow meant Monday's free skiing session, in which she could learn about the race course's terrain and conditions, was canceled, she wrote.
"None of our staff has been on the hill," she wrote. "We don't know what shape the hill is in. We don't know anything about it."
Vonn was very familiar with the hill since it is where the World Cup finals were held last year, she wrote, "but it always feels a little awkward when you don't get a chance to free ski the hill before you race. It's tricky to know the terrain when all you have to go on is course inspection the morning of the race."
Vonn, who won the downhill gold in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, is just three wins behind Annemarie Moser-Proll's record of 62 World Cup wins. She was coming back from an intestinal illness that hospitalized her in November.
Watch: Vonn interviewed in 2010
World Cup leader Tina Maze won gold in Tuesday's super-G ahead of Lara Gut of Switzerland and third-placed American Julia Mancuso.
The Slovenian continued her dominance this season as another big rival, two-time Olympic champion Maria Hofl-Riesch of Germany, also crashed out of the race.
"This is very important for me, it is my first speed medal," Maze said on the FIS website.
"I came here as one of the top favorites and proved my good shape. I knew it would be a long day today and was ready for it, even after all the postponements. Slovenia is such a small country and I am very happy and proud I can take this gold medal back with me."
Mancuso won the fifth world championship medal of her career, and her third in the super-G discipline -- one of two "speed events" along with the downhill, compared to the "technical" slalom and giant slalom races.
"I think that might've been one of the most difficult races I've ever been in. It was a really long course. I didn't know I'd be so tired at the end of the run," the 28-year-old said.
Vonn faces race against time
CNN's Stephanie Halasz contributed to this report
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Vonn is lifted by a helicopter during the women's super-G event during the Alpine FIS Ski World Championships on Tuesday, February 5, 2013, in Schladming, Austria.
Vonn skis before crashing while competing on February 5.
Vonn is airlifted on February 5.
Vonn is airlifted on February 5.
Lindsey Kildow, who became Vonn by marriage, of the USA Ski team poses for a portrait in 2001.
Kildow rides the lift with Maria Riesch of Germany during training for the FIS Alpine Skiing Women's World Cup Race on December 8, 2005, in Aspen, Colorado.
Kildow poses with her trophy, a cow, in Val d'Isere, France, after winning her second World Cup in the women's downhill event on December 17, 2005.
Kildow catches air during the women's downhill World Cup in Val d'Isere, France, on December 20, 2006.
Vonn gets ready to start her FIS Ski World Cup women's downhill training in Aspen, Colorado, on December 5, 2007.
Vonn cruises down the mountain during the slalom event in the women's super combined at the FIS alpine skiing world cup on March 9, 2008, in Crans-Montana.
Vonn competes in the women's slalom first run on March 13, 2009, at the Ski World Cup finals in Are, Spain.
Vonn celebrates with her gold medal during the medal ceremony for the alpine skiing ladies downhill in the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics on February 17, 2010 in Whistler, Canada.
Vonn accepts the award for Best Female Athlete onstage at The 2011 ESPY Awards on July 13, 2011, in Los Angeles.
Vonn takes first place during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup for women's giant slalom on October 22, 2011, in Soelden, Austria.
Vonn starts in the FIS World Cup women's downhill training on January 13, 2012, in Cortina d'Ampezzo.
Vonn makes a jump during the FIS World Cup women's downhill in Tarvisio on March 5, 2011. Vonn won the downhill World Cup title for the fourth year in a row.
Vonn in action during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup women's downhill training on February 3, 2012, in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.
Vonn shows her first-place trophy during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup for the women's super-G on February 26, 2012, in Bansko, Bulgaria.
Vonn arrives at the 2012 ESPY Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on July 11, 2012, in Los Angeles.
Vonn sprays powder during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup women's downhill on January 19, 2013, in Cortina D'ampezzo, Italy. She took first place.
From left, Tina Maze of Slovenia who came in second, Vonn who took first, and Anna Fenninger of Austria who took third celebrate after the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup for women's giant slalom on January 26, 2013, in Maribor, Slovenia.
Skiing is a treacherous sport, demonstrated by this fall Vonn had at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin. She was airlifted to hospital but returned two days later to compete and finished eighth. Her grit earned her the U.S. Olympic Spirit Award.
Vonn married fellow U.S. skier Thomas Vonn in 2007. Vonn also became her coach. The pair split in November 2011.
Lake Louise is Vonn's playground. She has dominated there in recent years, winning all three downhill events in December 2012, like she did the year before. Her request to race against the men there this year was rejected.
Vonn took time out of her preparations for an Alpine World Cup event in Val d'Isere to catch up with CNN's Alpine Edge show.
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