Only sheet metal for Hütter

LIVE: It’s about to start! Will Vonn put on a big show?

Breezy Johnson (left) won gold. Lindsey Vonn was transported away by helicopter.(Bild: Krone KREATIV/Pail Sepp)

An injury drama involving US superstar Lindsey Vonn overshadowed the Olympic triumph of her compatriot Breezy Johnson in the women's downhill on Sunday. Silver in Cortina went to Germany's Emma Aicher (+0.04 seconds), while bronze was won by Italy's Sofia Goggia (+0.59). Conny Hütter (+0.86) was the best Austrian, finishing in fourth place.

The 41-year-old American fell before the first intermediate time measurement, rolled over and remained lying on the ground. The race was then interrupted for a long time. Vonn was skiing with a partial prosthesis in her right knee, and according to her own statements, she had suffered a complete tear of the cruciate ligament in her left knee just over a week ago. There is still no reliable information about her condition.

Lindsey Vonn took a nasty fall.(Bild: AFP/TIZIANA FABI)

Red-white-red dry spell
The ÖSV's medal drought in Olympic women's downhill continued. Elisabeth Görgl last won bronze in Vancouver in 2010 – since then, the Austrian Ski Federation has been waiting for more. Ariane Rädler finished eighth, and vice world champion Mirjam Puchner came eleventh. Nina Ortlieb escaped serious injury in a fall.

"I think I could have fought Sofia for the bronze, which hurts. I made a mistake – my fault," said Hütter. "I already knew it wouldn't be enough because I knew who was still at the top. But it's skiing, and after all my injuries, I'm not going to let it get me down." The day before, ski jumper Lisa Eder had already secured fourth place for the ÖOC.

Rädler explained that her run had not been perfect. "I didn't want to hold back and I really gave it my all, but maybe it was once too many. Only 1, 2, and 3 count – so it's a real shame." Puchner, who had to wait a long time after Vonn, said she had to put today behind her. "We still have two chances where we have to step on the gas."

Thrilling duel between Johnson and Aicher
Rädler was the first of the Austrian women to set a respectable time with bib number 2, which held until Johnson. The world champion took to the course with bib number 6 and entered a new dimension. The 30-year-old's run was particularly impressive in the final section with her uncompromising attack. Aicher stopped the clock just a fraction of a second later.

Here are the final results:

After a strong middle section, Hütter strayed from the ideal line once too often and finished 0.86 seconds behind Johnson. Then Vonn took to the course with bib number 13 and crashed after just 13 seconds. Puchner was the first to race after the subsequent 20-minute interruption, followed by local hero Goggia (+0.59). With start number 17, American Jacqueline Wiles achieved the same time as Hütter.