( CNN ) -- Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn suffered a `` complex knee injury '' when she crashed during the opening day super-G at the Alpine Ski World Championships in Austria on Tuesday , doctors said . The U.S . Ski and Snowboard Association said the four-time Alpine World Cup champion was airlifted from the race course in Schladming , Austria , to a hospital . She was evaluated and released , according to the U.S . Ski Team . Vonn , 28 , does not need immediate surgery on the `` complex torn ligament '' in her right knee , said Dr. Christian Kaulfersch , who is treating her at the Schladming Hospital . U.S. team officials are considering whether she should fly back to the United States or remain in Europe for treatment , he said . Days earlier : Victorious Vonn closes on World Cup record . The U.S. team 's website reported that Vonn will be out for the rest of this season , but is expected to return for the 2013-14 World Cup campaign and next February 's Winter Olympics in Sochi . Vonn suffered a torn ACL and MCL in her right knee and a lateral tibial plateau fracture , according to ski team medical director Kyle Wilkens . Vonn wrote in a special column published in The Denver Post that the women 's super-G runs might be postponed Tuesday because of weather . Vonn 's injury 'career-delayer , ' not 'career-ender ' `` I 've been trying to be patient and stay calm , but it 's pretty tough with the way the weather has been , '' Vonn wrote . `` It snowed a lot Sunday night , there was no training possible Monday on the race hill , then it rained most of Monday afternoon and evening . '' The heavy snow meant Monday 's free skiing session , in which she could learn about the race course 's terrain and conditions , was canceled , she wrote . `` None of our staff has been on the hill , '' she wrote . `` We do n't know what shape the hill is in . We do n't know anything about it . '' Vonn was very familiar with the hill since it is where the World Cup finals were held last year , she wrote , `` but it always feels a little awkward when you do n't get a chance to free ski the hill before you race . It 's tricky to know the terrain when all you have to go on is course inspection the morning of the race . '' Vonn , who won the downhill gold in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver , is just three wins behind Annemarie Moser-Proll 's record of 62 World Cup wins . She was coming back from an intestinal illness that hospitalized her in November . Watch : Vonn interviewed in 2010 . World Cup leader Tina Maze won gold in Tuesday 's super-G ahead of Lara Gut of Switzerland and third-placed American Julia Mancuso . The Slovenian continued her dominance this season as another big rival , two-time Olympic champion Maria Hofl-Riesch of Germany , also crashed out of the race . `` This is very important for me , it is my first speed medal , '' Maze said on the FIS website . `` I came here as one of the top favorites and proved my good shape . I knew it would be a long day today and was ready for it , even after all the postponements . Slovenia is such a small country and I am very happy and proud I can take this gold medal back with me . '' Mancuso won the fifth world championship medal of her career , and her third in the super-G discipline -- one of two `` speed events '' along with the downhill , compared to the `` technical '' slalom and giant slalom races . `` I think that might 've been one of the most difficult races I 've ever been in . It was a really long course . I did n't know I 'd be so tired at the end of the run , '' the 28-year-old said . Vonn faces race against time . CNN 's Stephanie Halasz contributed to this report .
* : Lindsey Vonn suffered right knee nerve damage and a concussion . * : Four - time Alpine World Cup champion released from hospital . Snow prevented her from practicing on the race course Monday . Vonn won the downhill gold in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver .