Vonn plans to wear protective brace on her broken right pinkie in Friday’s Olympic slalom

Vonn plans to race wearing brace on right pinkie

WHISTLER, British Columbia — Lindsey Vonn will race in Friday’s Olympic slalom wearing a hard-plastic brace to protect her broken right pinkie.

Thomas Vonn, who serves as his wife’s adviser and coach, told The Associated Press she tested the injured finger in a series of training runs Thursday. She will wear a mitten over the brace, instead of a racing glove.

Whether Lindsey Vonn will tape her ski pole to her hand hasn’t been decided.

Vonn injured her finger in a crash during the first run of the giant slalom Wednesday. She also tweaked her bruised shin and back in the spill. Her husband said she’s “a ball of hurt right now,” but the pain was “manageable.”

Vonn won a gold in downhill and bronze in super-G at these Olympics.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

WHISTLER, British Columbia (AP) — The U.S. Ski Team says Lindsey Vonn will race in Friday’s Olympic slalom, despite her broken right pinkie.

Team spokesman Doug Haney wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press on Thursday that Vonn will compete in the final women’s Alpine event of the Vancouver Games. Also on the U.S. roster are Sarah Schleper of Vail, Colo., Hailey Duke of Boise, Idaho, and Megan McJames of Park City, Utah.

Julia Mancuso earlier opted out of the slalom.

Vonn, who lives and trains in Vail, injured her finger in a crash during the first run of the giant slalom Wednesday, and the U.S. Olympic Committee said later that day she hadn’t decided whether to race the slalom.

Vonn won a gold in downhill and bronze in super-G at these Olympics.