Tina Maze celebrates winning her third medal and second gold at this year's Alpine World Ski Championships following her Alpine Combined success.
Tina Maze celebrates winning her third medal and second gold at this year's Alpine World Ski Championships following her Alpine Combined success.
DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images
Maze prevailed by 0.22 seconds, with Austrian duo Nicole Hosp and Michaela Kirchgasser taking silver and bronze respectively.
Maze prevailed by 0.22 seconds, with Austrian duo Nicole Hosp and Michaela Kirchgasser taking silver and bronze respectively.
Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom/Getty Images
The Slovenian is attempting to become the first women to win five individual medals at a single World Championships. Lasse Kjusin of Norway in 1999 is the only man to achieve the feat.
The Slovenian is attempting to become the first women to win five individual medals at a single World Championships. Lasse Kjusin of Norway in 1999 is the only man to achieve the feat.
Alain Grosclaude/Agence Zoom/Getty Images
Bode Miller had been setting the fastest run of the day before crashing and severing a hamstring tendon at the World Championships.
Alpine Skiing World Championships 2015 —
Bode Miller had been setting the fastest run of the day before crashing and severing a hamstring tendon at the World Championships.
Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images
Miller, 37, won Olympic gold at Vancouver 2010 and is a four-time world champion. The race, on February 5, had been his first since returning from back surgery.
Alpine Skiing World Championships 2015 —
Miller, 37, won Olympic gold at Vancouver 2010 and is a four-time world champion. The race, on February 5, had been his first since returning from back surgery.
Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom/Getty Images
Lindsey Vonn is back on the world podium with her first medal at an event of this size since 2011 -- bronze in the super-G in Beaver Creek, Colorado.
Alpine Skiing World Championships 2015 —
Lindsey Vonn is back on the world podium with her first medal at an event of this size since 2011 -- bronze in the super-G in Beaver Creek, Colorado.
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Vonn expressed mild frustration at the windy conditions in Beaver Creek for Tuesday's race on February 3, but said she was happy to finish third. Austria's Anna Fenninger won gold.
Alpine Skiing World Championships 2015 —
Vonn expressed mild frustration at the windy conditions in Beaver Creek for Tuesday's race on February 3, but said she was happy to finish third. Austria's Anna Fenninger won gold.
Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
Tiger Woods (left), fresh from losing a tooth while supporting girlfriend Vonn in Italy last month, once again turned up to watch.
Alpine Skiing World Championships 2015 —
Tiger Woods (left), fresh from losing a tooth while supporting girlfriend Vonn in Italy last month, once again turned up to watch.
Alexis Boichard/Agence Zoom/Getty Images
Alpine Skiing World Championships 2015

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Story highlights

Bode Miller severes hamstring tendon in crash at World Championships in Colorado

Miller, 37, had been in the middle of the day's fastest run before catching a gate and landing badly

Picabo Street, 1998 Olympic champion, believes the injury may end Miller's career

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.