Lindsey Vonn to skip Olympic season opener

(UPI) -- Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn is skipping the Alpine Skiing World Championships in Austria this weekend, giving herself some extra time to get back into competing form ahead of the Sochi games.

Vonn, 29, suffered ruptured ligaments in her knee earlier this year, taking her out of training for seven months before she was able to get back on her skis in September. Her decision to pull out of the competition seemed to be a last-minute one, as she trained extensively this week on the glacier at Soelden, where the races will take place.

"I feel that I need more training before I start racing again," Vonn said on Facebook. "Patience is not my strong suit so not racing is very hard for me but it will only make me more excited for the next one."

Vonn said she plans to return home to her principle training spot in Vail, Colo., to prepare for the World Cup event at Beaver Creek in November and to defend her downhill title in Sochi in February.