The World Ski Championships got off to the worst possible start on Tuesday when US ski star Lindsey Vonn suffered a heavy crash during the opening race of the two-week event. The 28-year-old media starlet, one of global sport's most recognisable and marketable female figures, landed on the side of her ski after a jump during the opening super-G race here, and flipped over before crashing into a safety gate. The dramatic crash, which saw one of Vonn's skis cart-wheeling down the slope, left her on-watching sister Laura Kildow and eventual winner Tina Maze gasping in horror.

(Updates with team statement) By Manuele Lang SCHLADMING, Austria, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn will miss the rest of the Alpine skiing season after fracturing her shin and tearing knee ligaments in a crash during the opening super-G at the world championships on Tuesday. "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," the U.S. team said in a statement.

SCHLADMING, Austria, Feb 5 (Reuters) - American Lindsey Vonn suffered a serious crash in the women's super-G on the opening day of the alpine skiing world championships on Tuesday. A helicopter was called to take the four-times overall World Cup champion to hospital. The race had been delayed by fog. (Editing by Mark Meadows)

The US speed queens are looking to conquer the medal table at the World Ski Championships opening Monday in Schladming, Austria with Lindsay Vonn and Julia Mancuso leading the pack of gold-hungry ladies. "I think it's very possible that the Americans could dominate the podium here," Vonn, two-time world champion and US alpine skiing's sweetheart, said ahead of the two weeks of competition. "Almost everyone has been on the podium already and everyone can win... the team is incredibly strong at the moment."