Super-G in Crans-Montana
Shortly before the Olympics: German ski hopeful falls
January 31, 2026 – 12:33 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
A few days before the Olympic Games, Emma Aicher falls in the Super-G. A blessing in disguise: The German apparently wasn’t injured.
Medal hopeful Emma Aicher botched the Olympic dress rehearsal, but escaped with a shock when she fell during the Super-G in Crans Montana. The 22-year-old all-rounder fell in bright sunshine over the Mont Lachaux piste in the “Fuchsloch” – the same place where Lindsey Vonn had also injured herself in a fall on the downhill run the day before.
While teammate Kira Weidle-Winkelmann finished in an excellent fifth place and only missed the podium by eight hundredths, Aicher didn’t look for excuses. “I just didn’t like the outside skis. That just shouldn’t happen – a beginner’s mistake,” she said on ZDF, but emphasized: “My skiing is good, I won’t let it get me down. Just check it out.”
In the last race before the Olympics, which begins for women on February 8th with the downhill race in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Malorie Blanc from Switzerland celebrated her first victory to the cheers of the audience in only her 20th World Cup start. She won ahead of Sofia Goggia from Italy (+0.18 seconds) and downhill world champion Breezy Johnson (USA/+0.36).
Aicher had the best time until she was eliminated. After slipping a little down the slope, she immediately got up again and threw her head back in disappointment. A little later, when teammate Weidle-Winkelmann raced to the second-best result of her career in the Super-G, Aicher was already standing in the finish area and applauding. “It’s a good feeling that I’m back at the front,” said Weidle-Winkelmann.
As expected, Vonn had canceled her start after falling on the downhill the day before. “Unfortunately I can’t start,” she said on Instagram, while also thanking her for the “love and support I’ve received – that means the world to me.” She is now doing “my best…” she added to be able to take part in the Olympics.
As was the case the day before, Vonn did not provide any further information about her left knee injury. Encouragement came from teammate Mikaela Shiffrin, among others: “If anyone can do it, it’s you,” she wrote.
