Vonn pulls out of women's super-G race to rest sore knee

Published Dec. 17, 2017 8:40 a.m. ET

VAL D'ISERE, France (AP) Lindsey Vonn pulled out of a World Cup super-G race on Sunday because of a sore knee.

The 33-year-old American did not say which knee hurts, but has injured both before.

She took part in Sunday's early-morning inspection at the French Alpine resort, but then decided against racing as a precautionary measure and flew home.

Vonn secured her first win of the season and record-extending 78th in Saturday's super-G on the same Oreiller-Killy course.

''Knee is a bit sore from yesterday so to be on the safe side I'm going to give my body some rest,'' Vonn tweeted. ''My focus is on the Olympics so no need to risk anything now.''

Vonn did not say when she plans to return. There are only slalom and giant slalom races to follow - not her specialty - until the next speed events in January. They begin with a downhill and super-G at the Austrian resort of Bad Kleinkirchheim from Jan. 13-14.

Last weekend, Vonn jarred her back in another super-G race at St. Moritz in Switzerland.

Her mind is fully on the Pyeongchang Olympics in South Korea from Feb. 9-25. She won gold in downhill and bronze in super-G at the 2010 Games.

Vonn has battled with injury during her illustrious career.

She sustained a hairline fracture to her left knee in a super-G race in February 2016.

At the 2013 world championships, Vonn crashed in the super-G and tore ligaments in her right knee. She was unable to defend her Olympic title at the 2014 Games.