Skiing poster girl Lindsey Vonn airlifted to hospital after serious crash

American skier has been romantically linked with Tiger Woods

American skier Lindsey Vonn has been airlifted to hospital after a serious crash at the World Championships in Schladming.

The four-time World Cup overall champion lost balance on her right leg while landing after a jump. Immediately her ski came off and Vonn slid off the course and hit a gate before coming to a standstill.

Vonn was treated for 12 minutes on the slope before being taken to hospital by helicopter.

In pictures: Lindsey Vonn is airlifted to hospital

Reports suggest she has ruptured cruciate ligaments in her right knee, which will rule her out for the season.

Vonn, who has been romantically linked with golfer Tiger Woods, was competing in the Super-G event on the opening day of the championships.

The start of events on the opening day in Austria has been delayed by three-and-a-half hours due to fog.

The Olympic gold medal winner at the 2010 Winter Olympics is the poster girl of US skiing, having appeared on The Today Show, Access Hollywood, and The Late Show with David Letterman, as well as taking on a number of commercial endorsements, most notably with Red Bull.

Vonn married fellow skier Thomas Vonn in 2007, however it was announced the couple had begun divorce proceedings last year which were finalised last month. The 28-year-old has since been rumoured to be having a relationship with Woods.