Two-time Olympic gold medalist Michelle Gisin underwent back surgery on Thursday after a serious crash during a practice run for a World Cup downhill event in St. Moritz, Switzerland. Gisin, a member of the Swiss women’s alpine ski team, is the third current Olympic champion from Switzerland to experience a training accident in the past month, following Lara Gut-Behrami and Corinne Suter.
The 32-year-old athlete collided with safety fences at a speed exceeding 110 kilometers per hour during a practice session at St. Moritz. Gisin sustained injuries to her right wrist and left knee but was reported to have normal movement in her arms and legs. She was airlifted to Zurich for surgery and is currently in stable condition.
The accident occurred when one of Gisin’s skis appeared to catch an edge while approaching a sharp left turn, causing her to lose control and crash through safety nets before coming to a stop. Despite visible scratches and cuts on her face, Gisin remained conscious as medical personnel provided assistance on the scene.
Gisin, a gold medalist in alpine combined at the previous two Winter Olympics, now serves as the experienced leader of the Swiss women’s speed team due to injuries suffered by her teammates. Gut-Behrami’s season was cut short after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee in a practice mishap, while Suter is recovering from calf, knee, and foot injuries sustained in a training accident at St. Moritz.
During the recent Winter Games in China, Suter claimed the downhill gold, Gut-Behrami secured victory in super-G, and Gisin earned bronze in the same event, before triumphing in the individual combined competition. Collectively, the Swiss skiers have amassed seven Olympic medals throughout their careers.
The incident involving Gisin occurred while American ski star Lindsey Vonn was already on the course for her practice run. Vonn paused her run to allow medical attention for Gisin before continuing later. Vonn had posted the fastest time in the preceding practice session.
Looking ahead, the Milan-Cortina Olympics are set to commence on February 6, featuring the women’s alpine skiing competition at the iconic Cortina d’Ampezzo hill.