Terrible image in the super-G in Wengen on Friday. While hurtling down the bottom of the course at full speed, he suffered a heavy fall upon landing a jump. He was quickly evacuated by helicopter and appeared to be injured in the left knee.
The first medical report came almost an hour after the events: “Following a fall at the super-g in Wengen, Alexis Pinturault suffers from left knee and wrist pain, indicates the French Ski Federation in a communication to the media. He was evacuated to Interlaken (Switzerland) for examinations. He did not lose consciousness. »
Seventh man at the start of the Wengen super-G on Friday, Alexis Pinturault (32) was the victim of a heavy fall when landing a jump at the bottom of the course. HAS at full speed, the skier from Courchevel who is starting a new career oriented towards speed found himself on the ground, there is great concern regarding his left knee. In the moments that followed, the Savoyard champion’s cries of pain were heard.
Half an hour interruption
The decision to evacuate Alexis Pinturault by helicopter was taken in the seconds that followed, while the race, temporarily dominated by Cyprien Sarrazin, was interrupted from 12:45 p.m. to 1:12 p.m. Next runner to start, the Swiss Justin Murisier was able to set off after almost half an hour of waiting.
After missing the giant of Adelboden to accompany his wife Romane in the birth of little Olympe, his first child, Alexis Pinturault returned to competition in Wengen. Excellent 9th in the descent (his first top 10 in the specialty), the multiple world champion left with one of the best bibs on this super-G in Wengen.
No knee injury yet
Alexis Pinturault has so far not had to suffer a knee injury. His only major injury dates back to July 2012: a sprained left ankle while playing tennis. He was able to resume competition the following November, in the slalom of Levi (Finland).
A second big fall in two days on the Lauberhorn, while the day before it was the Swiss Marco Kohler who crashed. During the first (shortened) descent, he missed landing a jump and injured his right knee. After examinations, the 24-year-old skier was diagnosed with a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament, the internal meniscus, as well as a strained internal ligament.