Vonn Successfully Returns to Snow - USSA Network

PORTILLO, Chile (Sept. 2) -- A smiling and pain free Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO), Olympic gold medalist and four-time Audi FIS Alpine World Cup overall champion, clicked into her skis for the first time in almost seven months on Saturday (Aug. 31) as she rejoined the Best in the World women's speed team for the first day of a two-week camp in Portillo. Originally slated to ski for the first time on Sunday, an eager Vonn - who landed in nearby Santiago Saturday morning - snatched two gentle runs as soon as her equipment arrived in Portillo. Vonn severely injured her right knee on Feb. 5 during a crash in the opening race of the 2013 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Schladming, Austria. While projected to return to snow in November, Vonn is ahead of schedule as she begins to build toward defending her downhill Olympic gold medal next February in Sochi, Russia -- just over one year after her season-ending crash. USSA Network, Sept. 2013 www.usskiteam.com