The season ended prematurely for ski crosser Daniela Maier. The 27-year-old Olympic bronze medalist had to undergo surgery on her left knee.
Season off for Daniela Maier: The ski crosser from SC Urach, who celebrated her 27th birthday at the weekend, had to undergo an operation on her knee after her return from the World Championships in Bakuriani, Georgia, where she had finished seventh.
Daniela Maier at the Ski Cross World Cup on the Reiteralm
“Rather now than in summer”
Manuel Köhne, team doctor of the German Ski Association (DSV), removed a piece of cartilage during the arthroscopy and smoothed the remaining cartilage.
“An operation never fits. But better now than in the summer when I start preparing again”, Maier said. According to Köhne, she will kneel “Now have to take a load off for a few weeks before she can start rehabilitation and gradually start training again”.
Premature end of the season two years ago
As the best German ski crosser, Maier is currently fourth in the World Cup rankings, but would no longer have a chance of winning the crystal globe, which Swede Sandra Näslund certainly has. Maier had to end the season early two years ago. Back then, in January 2021, she had torn a cruciate ligament during training, had also had an operation and was out for several months.