LINDSAY VONN INJURY DERAILS USA

That long-awaited Lindsey Vonn medal parade on the slopes of Whistler Peak appears in serious eopardy after the U.S. alpine ski star arrived in Vancouver and announced a serious leg bruise that left her barely able to walk -- and off of skis for a week. Vonn, a medal favorite in three events here and a strong contender in another two, had torn up the World Cup circuit earlier this season, at one point posting five consecutive downhill victories. But she injured her leg during a training run after her last World Cup race and has struggled with it ever since, she said on NBC's "Today" show this morning. Vonn called the injury "excruciatingly painful," and conceded it gives her grave doubts about competing, or at least competing effectively, in the 2010 Winter Games that launch Friday.