World Cup in danger?
Fallen ski star: diagnosis is there
Updated on January 19, 2025 – 11:06 amReading time: 2 minutes
There were great concerns about him after his fall. Vincent Kriechmayr has now been diagnosed. What does this mean for his World Cup participation?
Austria’s ski racer Vincent Kriechmayr apparently had a lot of luck at the World Cup downhill race in Wengen. Despite a fall on the longest downhill course in the World Cup, the 33-year-old top athlete only suffered severe knee ligament strain. The Austrian Ski Association (ÖSV) confirmed this after an MRI examination on Saturday evening.
Kriechmayr was relieved and explained: “At first I thought the injury was worse because I could hardly put any weight on the leg, so you can definitely say it was a blessing in disguise.”
The accident occurred on the almost 4,400 meter long track shortly before the finish curve. Kriechmayr lost control on a wave that was in the shadows and fell into the safety net. Although the 2021 double world champion managed to drive to the finish area under his own power, he had to leave the area with the support of supervisors.
It is currently unclear when Kriechmayr can start training again. Further investigations should provide clarity in the coming days. Is even the World Cup in danger for him now? Kriechmayr explained that he would “do everything he can” to “be as fit as possible” by the World Cup in Saalbach in February. However, a start at the prestigious Hahnenkamm downhill run in Kitzbühel next weekend is virtually impossible.
While Kriechmayr got off relatively lightly, Blaise Giezendanner was hit much harder. The Frenchman had a serious fall on Saturday and had to be transported from the track by helicopter. The French Ski Association announced that the 33-year-old had torn a cruciate ligament.