Lindsey Vonn will not race the World Cup season-opening giant slalom in Soelden, Austria, on Saturday, according to her social media.
The four-time World Cup overall champion’s spirits had improved from Monday, when she reportedly said she was “more likely than not” to skip the race, 10 weeks after fracturing an ankle in a New Zealand training crash.
Vonn said she felt “awesome” after arriving in Austria and training on snow for the first time since the crash on Thursday, according to The Associated Press, but said she was “slightly hesitant” in a Facebook post Friday and decided not to race.
Vonn’s next race could be the next giant slalom in Aspen, Colo., on Nov. 28.
Vonn last raced in Soelden in 2012. She missed the event the previous two seasons as she worked her way back from two major knee surgeries that prevented her from defending her Olympic downhill title in Sochi.
Vonn, 31, won eight races last season in breaking the women’s World Cup career wins record. All of those victories came in downhills and super-Gs.
Her last giant slalom victory came Jan. 26, 2013.
Saturday’s favorite may be Mikaela Shiffrin, who shared the win in Soelden last year with Austrian Anna Fenninger. Fenninger, the two-time reigning World Cup overall champion, is out for the season after a training crash Wednesday.
Vonn and Shiffrin are the top returning skiers from last season’s World Cup standings.
MORE ALPINE SKIING: Lindsey Vonn, Mikaela Shiffrin differ on who is World Cup overall favorite
