Mikaela Shiffrin helped off course after heavy crash in Cortina d'Ampezzo downhill | Alpine ski World Cup 2023/24
The greatest World Cup Alpine ski racer of all time careened into the safety netting at the top of the Olympia delle Tofane, and although she was able to walk away from her accident with help was helicoptered away from the scene.
Alpine Skiing
Mikaela Shiffrin had to be helicopter lifted off the Olympia delle Tofane in Cortina d'Ampezzo after crashing into safety netting on her FIS Alpine Ski World Cup downhill run on Friday (26 January).
The 28-year-old American had just come off a small jump right before the giant Tofanaschuss, but slid on landing and was unable to regain the skiing line before careening into the netting.
She appeared to bounce off the netting before coming to a stop nearby, staying down for a few minutes.
After a lengthy delay, Shiffin was seen sititng up against the netting as ski patrollers attended to her, before she stood up and walked off with their help, unable to put any weight on her left leg.
Eventually, the medical helicopter attended the scene to help winch her away.
Her crash was the second of the race in the first seven skiers after Priska Nufer at the same corner, with Italy's Laura Pirovano in the lead at the time.
Shiffrin's boyfriend Aleksander Aamodt Kilde is also currently rehabbing from a serious downhill crash of his own.
The U.S. team said later on social media that Shiffrin had sent a message of support to her teammates saying "it's all ok", before a further update stated there was no obvious damage to Shiffrin's cruciate ligaments:
@mikaelashiffrin was taken by ambulance to the clinic in Cortina and is being evaluated for a left leg injury. Initial analysis shows the ACL and PCL seem intact.
Shiffrin herself later posted on social media, thanking fans for support before adding, "At this point I’m just taking it day by day, and I’ll share more information or updates as I know more. Very thankful it’s not worse, but I’m pretty sore at the moment."
The American went on to say that she would not participate the rest of the weekend or in Kronplatz.
"Beyond that, it’s quite hard to say right now," wrote Shiffrin. "Need a little time to process with my team and see how everything is feeling in the coming days!"