( CNN ) Could Bode Miller 's career be over ? The US skier , a winner of four world titles alongside Olympic gold at Vancouver 2010 , severed a hamstring tendon in a high-speed crash while racing at the World Championships in Beaver Creek , Colorado . Miller , 37 , hooked his arm around a gate near the bottom of Thursday 's super-G course and span awkwardly , slicing a gash through his leg on landing . One of Miller 's skis , both of which came off , may have caused the injury . Racing for the first time since undergoing back surgery in November , Miller had displayed characteristic bravery in what was -- up to the crash -- the fastest run of the day . `` He was absolutely sending it top to bottom , putting down a run that inspires Americans , inspires the world , '' said US men 's coach Sasha Rearick . Within hours of the crash , surgeons were working to repair Miller 's tendon . `` Feeling lucky since things could have been way worse , '' he tweeted . TV analyst Brian Stemmle , a four-time Winter Olympian for Canada , tweeted this graphic image of Miller 's leg . Picabo Street , the 1998 Olympic super-G champion , feared the injury may end the legendary skier 's career . `` We might have seen the last of Bode , '' Street said , according to the Denver Post . `` I think we 've seen Bode Miller race for the last time . You know what ? He was putting a beautiful run together and he did it in typical Bode style . `` It 's been a beautiful career . '' Austria 's Hannes Reichelt went on to win the gold medal , ahead of surprise silver-medalist Dustin Cook of Canada . Cook had never previously reached the podium at a top-level senior event .
Bode Miller severes hamstring tendon in crash at World Championships in 1998 . Miller , 37 , had been in the middle of the world 's fastest run before hitting a gate and falling badly . Michael Street , 1998 Olympic champion , believes the injury may end Miller 's career .