Lindsey Vonn rehabbed her leg for almost an entire year -- but it was all for naught.

The Olympic Gold Medalist had said in November that she would need surgery again but that she would try to push through the two months or so before the Olympics and then compete at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, but it was too much of an uphill battle for the popular skier. She took a tumble yet again in December -- on her bad leg -- and that proved to be the final straw.

A recent MRI, according to Vonn's publicist, "showed an MCL sprain which, coupled with the torn ACL, has made it impossible to stabilize her knee and be ready to safely ski again next month."

Vonn made an announcement on her Facebook page, saying that the "reality has sunk in."

"I am devastated to announce that I will not be able to compete in Sochi. I did everything I possibly could to somehow get strong enough to overcome having no ACL but the reality has sunk in that my knee is just too unstable to compete at this level. I'm having surgery soon so that I can be ready for the World Championships at home in Vail next February."

Vonn was already popular following her previous appearances in the Olympics, but her image was catapulted to the forefront of American media after everyone learned of her relationship with world famous golfer, Tiger Woods. Vonn has accompanied Woods at his golf outings and he was also present when she fell in France in the final days of 2013.

The 29-year-old skier has 17 World Cup titles and 59 World Cup Victories, putting her only three wins behind the record of 62.

What do you think about the Olympics now that Vonn will be out of the picture? Let us know in the comments section!