In the lead-up to the World Cup and the upcoming 2026 Milan Cortina Olympic Games, the world of Alpine skiing has been rocked by a spate of serious accidents, casting a spotlight on the inherent risks of the sport. Two-time Olympic champion Michelle Gisin’s recent crash during a practice run underscores not only the dangers faced by elite athletes but also the resilience and dedication required to excel at this level. As the skiing community rallies around its stars, the focus remains on advancing safety measures and celebrating the determination of those who take to the slopes.
Two-time Olympic champion Michelle Gisin has been airlifted from the slope following a serious crash during a practice run for an upcoming World Cup downhill event. The 32-year-old Swiss skier lost control while racing at speeds exceeding 110 km/h (69 mph) in St. Moritz on Thursday, where she was preparing for downhill races scheduled for the following days, along with a super-G competition on Sunday.
During the practice, one of Gisin’s skis appeared to catch an edge as she approached a fast left-hand turn, leading her to veer off course. She crashed through the initial layer of safety nets before being stopped by the second layer. Fortunately, there were no immediate reports of serious injuries; however, television footage displayed Gisin conscious on the ground, receiving medical assistance for minor scratches and cuts to her face.
This incident marks Gisin as the third member of the Swiss women’s Alpine ski team, all current Olympic champions, to suffer a crash in training within the same month, following Lara Gut-Behrami and Corinne Suter. Gisin, who has secured gold medals in Alpine combined events at the last two Winter Games, now finds herself as the veteran leader of the Swiss women’s speed team due to injuries affecting her fellow champions.
Gut-Behrami’s competitive season came to an abrupt end after she tore her anterior cruciate ligament while crashing during practice last month at Copper Mountain, Colorado. Suter is sidelined for approximately a month, grappling with a combination of calf, knee, and foot injuries stemming from her own training crash at St. Moritz.
At the previous Winter Games in Beijing, these talented skiers brought home multiple medals: Suter won the downhill event, Gut-Behrami took the super-G where Gisin earned a bronze, and Gisin clinched the final title in individual combined. The Swiss team has accumulated an impressive seven career Olympic medals, showcasing their dominance in the sport.
Gisin’s crash coincided with American star Lindsey Vonn actively participating in her practice run on the same course. Vonn, who displayed her prowess during the initial practice on Wednesday, was halted momentarily while Gisin received medical attention, only to continue her run shortly thereafter.
As the Milan Cortina Olympics approach, scheduled to begin on February 6 with a women’s Alpine skiing race at the famed Cortina d’Ampezzo hill, concerns regarding safety continue to surface. Following the tragic death of Italian skier Matteo Franzoso in a training accident earlier this year, discussions around how to mitigate risks in the high-speed sport have intensified. Notably, prominent American skier Mikaela Shiffrin has voiced concerns about training conditions, emphasizing the need for conscientious evaluation of safety measures to protect athletes in the face of uncontrollable variables.
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