Lindsey Vonn crash updates: Latest news after USA ski star falls badly in Olympics Women's Downhill

Lindsey Vonn's bid to defy the odds and win a medal in her likely fifth and final Winter Olympics ended in awful scenes as she crashed early in her Women's Downhill run on Sunday.

Vonn was already a terrific story by making a post-knee surgery comeback into competitive skiing. Then, she tore her ACL in a crash days before the Olympics, only to confirm she planned to compete anyway.

The 41-year-old lined up for her first medal shot in the Women's Downhill on Sunday, having clocked the third fastest time in her second raining run on Saturday.

Running 13th in the order, Vonn made a confident start but clipped a flag with her right shoulder and fell heavily. She was audibly distressed as she received medical attention before a helicopter arrived to carry her off the slope, as is customary when competitors are injured.

The Sporting News is tracking the latest updates.

Lindsey Vonn crash updates and latest news

Vonn was airborn as she made contact with the flag before losing her balance and hitting the snow hard. She rolled over multiple times before coming to a stop on her back.

The 2010 Olympic champion could be heard crying out in distress as medical staff attended her on the slope. The BBC reporter and former Olympian, Chemmy Alcott, said background music had to be played to the stunned crowd.

Vonn was eventually airlifted off the slope by a helicopter, at which point she received a standing ovation. The competition was delayed by more than 10 minutes while Vonn was treated.