Skiing Legend Vonn's Injury Sparks Safety Debate

U.S. skiing legend Lindsey Vonn's recent injury has sparked discussions about safety regulations in competitive skiing. According to RTHK, Vonn, a 41-year-old Olympic champion from the Vancouver Winter Games, suffered a fall just 13 seconds into the women's downhill event at the Milan Winter Olympics last Sunday. She was airlifted to a hospital where she was diagnosed with a leg fracture and underwent two surgeries. The incident has raised questions about whether athletes should compete while injured, especially since Vonn had torn her left ACL just nine days prior to the event. Johan Eliasch, President of the International Ski Federation, stated that while many have questioned whether the federation should intervene in such decisions, he firmly believes that the choice should rest with the athletes themselves. Eliasch emphasized that Vonn, more than anyone, understands her own injuries. Eliasch expressed his sympathy for the unfortunate event, acknowledging that Vonn's leg was indeed injured. However, he reiterated that skiing is inherently a dangerous sport, and such risks are part of competitive skiing.