Becky Sullivan

Before her injury, Vaughn was seen as a favorite for a gold medal in the downhill, a stunning fact considering she retired more than six years ago before mounting a comeback to World Cup ski racing.

Her teammate Breezy Johnson is another serious medal contender in that race.

In figure skating, the first medals will be awarded when the team event wraps up with back-to-back-to-back free skate routines, first the pairs, then women, then men.

The U.S.

was in the lead over Japan after Saturday.

There are also medal events in the mixed relay biathlon and men's luge.

The American cross-country skier Gus Schumacher will make his debut at this Olympics in the men's skiathlon.

And the U.S.

mixed doubles curling team will take on Sweden and Estonia.

Becky Sullivan, NPR News, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.

Vaughn was the third person to crash in the downhill race at Cron Montana, a resort in Switzerland.

She lost control after a jump and skidded into the sideline nets.

Injuries had forced her to retire back in 2019.

Her 82 World Cup wins were then the most for any female skier.

Since then, she got a new titanium knee and started training again.

Her comeback has been astonishingly successful.

This winter, she's won two World Cup races and reached the podium in five others, but the Olympics were always the goal.

Now that's in doubt.

After the crash, Vaughn was able to ski to the finish line herself, seen holding her left knee.

Then she was airlifted off the course for further evaluation.