SCHLADMING, Austria – As Squaw Valley skier Julia Mancuso celebrated her fifth career World Championship medal on Tuesday, Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn suffered a season-ending crash during the opening-day super G at the FIS Alpine Ski World Championships on Tuesday.

Vonn had posted the fastest first interval and was having a strong run when she went down off a jump midway down the course. She was immediately attended to by race medical officials and transported by helicopter, as is standard protocol, to a nearby hospital where she was evaluated and released.

According to U.S. Ski Team Medical Director Kyle Wilkens, Vonn suffered a torn ACL and MCL in her right knee and a lateral tibial plateau fracture. She will be out for the remainder of this season but is expected to return to racing for the 2013-14 Audi FIS World Cup season and the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.

---

---

Mancuso, meanwhile, put on a full-speed attack through fog, soft snow and deep ruts to take bronze.

It was her fifth career World Championships medal, third in super G and a women’s record eighth major championship medal. World Cup overall and super G leader Tina Maze of Slovenia captured gold with Lara Gut of Switzerland silver.

---

---

“I think that might’ve been one of the most difficult races I’ve ever been in,” Mancuso said. “It was a really long course and a lot of hurry up and wait. I didn’t know I’d be so tired at the end of the run. Every time, no matter what kind of run, I know I could have a much better run. But to finish on the podium is kind of all you can ask for.”

U.S. Women’s Head Coach Alex Hoedlmoeser was impressed with Mancuso’s performance, particularly after Vonn crashed.

“It was amazing how Julia attacked the course knowing that Lindsey had been hurt,” Hoedlmoeser said. “She is an amazing professional. No matter what the conditions, she prepares herself for the race and today was a great example. It’s a real credit to her tenacity and ability to adjust to the challenge.”