Vonn admits: 'this is the worst injury of my career'

From James Toney, Sportsbeat, in Vancouver

THEY rebranded the Olympic city as Vonn-couver and made up t-shirts in preparation but Lindsey Vonn's fans might need to make alternative plans or find substitute allegiances in the next fortnight.

CONCERN: Lindsey Vonn is the pin-up girl of the US Olympic team - but her participation at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver is no in major doubt (Getty Images)

Vonn revealed her injury setback on NBC's Today - a network that has paid top dollar with interest for Olympic rights and was banking on the skier to deliver their ratings and delight their advertisers.

This was not the script envisaged back in New York's Rockefeller Centre, where network executives focused on the bottom line had built Vonn up as the Michael Phelps of the Winter Games.

Vonn revealed she hadn't skied since injuring her right shin during training after the last World Cup stop in St Moritz and less than an hour later was pushed further on her setback by an Olympic press pack sensing the first big story of the Games.

"It's been emotional and very scary week," said Vonn.

"It's probably the worst place you can have an injury - there is no way around it and you feel it on every turn.

"It's hard to stay positive and focus on being prepared. It's changed my whole perspective coming into these Games and it's not where I want to be.

"A week ago I was fit, healthy and confident but now I'm questioning whether I can even ski.

"It was a really bad luck. I crashed in slalom training and couldn't walk for two days.

"I stayed over in Europe and changed my plans completely. I've not skied since my injury a week ago and I don't know how it is going to feel when I do.

"I tried putting my boot on in my hotel room this morning and it was excruciatingly painful.

Lindsey Vonn is swamped by Olympic media sensing the first big story of the Games. She was fighting tears during her news conference." Sportsbeat's James Toney onTwitter

"I'm trying to stay positive and I'm still doing therapy but we won't know until tomorrow how things are shaping up."

It's not the first time Vonn has suffered injury heartache at the Olympics.

In Turin four years ago she crashed badly during downhill training and was evacuated by helicopter to hospital, where doctors told her she might never ski again.

But within 48 hours she was back on the piste in Sestriere, finishing eighth and winning the Olympic Spirit Award.

This time around and she was desperate for something more tangible for her efforts than a prize, no matter how prestigious, for being a plucky loser.