( CNN ) -- Skier Lindsey Vonn is to take a sabbatical from World Cup competition , but the American insists the break has nothing to do with her recent admission she suffers from depression . Last month the finest female skier of her generation had to spend a couple of days in hospital due to an intestinal infection that she said had affected her `` energy and strength '' . `` After talking with my family and consulting with my coaches and trainers , I 've decided to take a break from the World Cup circuit , '' said Vonn on her Facebook page . `` I believe that some time off the mountain will help me regain the physical strength that I require to compete at the level that I demand from myself . I look forward to getting back on the mountain in the New Year . '' Alpine Director of the U.S . Ski Team Patrick Riml added : `` We support Lindsey in the decision so that she can return to the World Cup and compete in the World Championships at full strength . '' This season Vonn has won two downhills and two super-Gs , with her St. Moritz super-G victory in Switzerland delivering a 57th career World Cup triumph to put her within five victories of record-holder Annemarie Moser-Proell on the all-time list . But the American was below her best in the weekend races at Val d'Isere when her bid for a fifth-straight win ended in a crash . `` I want to be emphatic that this has nothing to do with my recent interview with People Magazine , '' added the 28-year-old Vonn on Facebook , referring to her admission that she has suffered from depression and currently takes an anti-depressant to manage the condition . `` I had completed that interview weeks before I was in the hospital with the intestinal infection . '' In the magazine interview , Vonn revealed that she had hit a low point four years ago . `` I could n't get out of bed anymore . I felt hopeless , empty , like a zombie , '' said Vonn , who added : `` All the parts of my life are finally in sync . I accept who I am , and I 'm moving forward . '' Last week Vonn told CNN in an exclusive interview that was pondering taking legal action in her bid to race against the men after the International Ski Federation ( FIS ) blocked her bid to challenge the sport 's top male stars at a recent meeting in Canada . `` I do n't want to make a big stink out of it but I feel like their response that I ca n't race with the men simply because I 'm a woman was definitely gender-biased so I 'm going to do what I can and hopefully make something work . `` So right now I 'm looking into options -- my father is an attorney so I 'm just seeing if there 's any options , legally , that I can take . ''
American skier Lindsey Vonn is to take a break from World Cup circuit . Vonn says break will help regain `` physical strength '' American Iooking forward to `` getting back on the mountain in the New Year '' Alpine Director of the U.S . The U.S. Ski Team has announced that it will be taking a two-week hiatus before returning for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.