Comeback after torn cruciate ligament – Giant slalom world champion Alexander Schmid showed in Sölden how you can come back after a serious injury.
In December 2024, Alexander Schmid suffered a torn cruciate ligament for the second time in his career. That meant the end of the season and the prospect of many months of rehab and torture in the weight room. In the BR24Sport podcast “Pizza & Fries” with Felix Neureuther and Philipp Nagel, Alexander Schmid talks about his hard road back, the change in perspective caused by the injury and how to find the motivation to get through tough rehab.
Alexander Schmid: “Mixed feelings” on the comeback
The start of the World Cup winter at the giant slalom in Sölden last weekend was a very special challenge for Schmid after a ten-month break from racing. Because at first there was great anticipation: “Generally, I just wanted to be at the start, just with the thought of having achieved it,” said Schmid. After the long rehab, “I was able to give myself a gift and simply take the next step. I was really looking forward to it.”
But before the first round: fog, snowfall, poor visibility and a bit of fear – completely different than before in training: “There were totally mixed feelings that day – from complete anticipation and relaxedness to uncertainty right before the start. (…) I had my heart fluttering and very strange thoughts about whether I was really in the right place.”
It’s all the more astonishing how the 31-year-old went about it: “When visibility is poor, you tend to pull back a little and are no longer active enough. And that’s exactly what makes it dangerous for a skier. That’s why I thought to myself: If I want to ski, the only solution is activity.” He succeeded. 27th place in the comeback – a success! After the first run, “a brutal burden was lifted.”
Schmid’s solution on the difficult way back: acceptance
However, the ski racer from Fischen im Allgäu first had to regain his mental strength. Because there was not only the injury, but there were also things in his private environment that he had to nibble on. He tore his cruciate ligament shortly after losing a good friend who often supported him mentally. “I lost a good friend,” said Schmid, his voice slightly broken. “I’m sure that it (the injury, editor) also had something to do with it. The body gets back what it needs. I was just absolutely not ready to ski that day.”
The path back to the comeback was of course accompanied by many thoughts and hopes, although Schmid dealt with the serious injuries differently the second time than the first time. “Of course the typical questions arise: ‘Why me?’ ‘Why again?’ They’re normal, you have to allow them,” said the 2023 world champion. “For me, the solution was acceptance. Because I knew that if I didn’t accept it, I would be completely in my own way.”
Giant slalom world champions Alexander Schmid and Felix Neureuther
“Not come back as quickly, but as healthily as possible”
His mindset? “It was clear to me: After the operation, things will go uphill again. Especially as a top athlete, you want to get back as quickly as possible. That was also my motto after my first cruciate ligament tear. But after the second one, I said to myself: No, I don’t want to come back as quickly as possible, but as healthy as possible.”
Above all, the clear goal was always to ski pain-free again. He was willing to do anything and go through with the rehab with full conviction. He didn’t think about competitive sports again until later. “I’ve converted it into something that makes me feel grateful to be able to be at the start again and – no matter what the outcome is.”
For host Felix Neureuther, one of the most important findings of all: “Gratitude can be an incredible power. (…) You have to be grateful that you are healthy.” If you feel like you don’t know what’s next, “doing things that are not in your comfort zone” can help. Instead, you have to try to be courageous, take new steps and perhaps reinvent yourself to a certain extent.” In other words, “roll up your sleeves and step on the gas!” Just like Alex Schmid did after his injury.
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Source: BR24Sport October 29, 2025 – 12:00 p.m
