Lindsey Vonn crashes out in women's downhill at Winter Olympics as compatriot Breezy Johnson wins gold

Lindsey Vonn crashed in the women’s downhill competition at the Winter Olympics as fellow American Breezy Johnson won an emotional gold in Cortina.

Vonn, 41, was competing nine days after rupturing ligaments in her left knee but hitting the first gate left her off balance, and her dreams of winning a medal in what she said will be her final Olympic downhill were over.

Vonn had successfully completed two training runs on the iconic Olimpia delle Tofane course but was airlifted off the piste after being tended to for a lengthy period.

World champion Johnson was in tears as her gold medal was confirmed after she clocked a blistering time of one minute 36.10 seconds.

The 30-year-old watched on the big screen at the finish line with her head in her hands when her team-mate crashed, having completed her run sixth while Vonn was 13th to go.

Germany’s Emma Aicher was pipped by 0.04 seconds and took the silver medal while Italian home favourite Sofia Goggia secured bronze.

Vonn was taking a huge risk by competing on Sunday having suffered the ACL injury in Switzerland in the last World Cup race before the Games but was determined to take to the course for her favoured event.

Stunned spectators applauded towards the helicopter as it carried her away from the piste which has brought her so much success in the past – with 12 of her 84 World Cup wins coming here.

Vonn had been unsure what her knee was capable of withstanding but had targeted the downhill as her favoured event while also being entered in the super-G and team events.

It is now unlikely she will compete in any of those, meaning her Olympic career has almost certainly come to a devastating end.