Winter Olympic organisers have cancelled a training event set to feature Lindsey Vonnbecause of heavy snow. A practice training run was set to take place at Cortina d’Ampezzo on Thursday just days ahead of the games getting underway.

But due to heavy snow in the region, the event has now been cancelled. An official statement read: ”Due to the ongoing snowfalls and the weather forecast, the FIS (International Ski and Snowboard Federation) has to cancel the first official Women’s Downhill training in Cortina on February 5.”

The event itself was set to take place at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre and was due to feature Team USA star Lindsey Vonn. The former gold medalist was expected to take to the slopes for the first time since vowing to compete despite picking up a serious knee injury.

Vonn, 41, was taking part in a World Cup race in Crans-Montana last Friday when she lost control and crashed into one of the safety nets. Vonn received immediate medical attention, while she was eventually airlifted to hospital for further testing.

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It was confirmed that she had ruptured her cruciate ligament, and had also sustained bone bruising and meniscal tears. But Vonn has since confirmed that she remains determined to take part in the Olympics.

She said: “We have been doing extensive therapy, consulting with doctors, been in the gym, and today I went skiing.

“Considering how my knee feels, it feels stable, it feels strong. With the help of a knee brace, I’m confident I’ll be competing on Sunday.

“I’m not crying. My head is high. I’m standing tall, I’m gonna do my best… can never say I didn’t try. I will do everything in my power to be in the starting gate.”

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She added: “My fitness is 100%, but that doesn’t mean that my body is 100%. As long as my swelling is down and my muscles are firing, my strength is what it was a few days ago.

“My knee is not swollen, and with the help of a knee brace, I am confident that I can compete on Sunday. This is not, obviously, what I had hoped for. I’ve been working really hard to come into these Games in a much different position.

“I know what my chances were before the crash, and I know my chances aren’t the same as it stands today, but I know there’s still a chance. And as long as there’s a chance, I will try. So, that’s where I am.”