Portugal Colonial - Olympic ski champion Gisin to undergo neck surgery after training crash

The 32-year-old was airlifted by helicopter off the slope after suffering "injuries to her right wrist, left knee and cervical spine". She will undergo surgery later Thursday in Zurich, Swiss-Ski said in a statement.

"Michelle Gisin is in a stable condition given the circumstances" and "can move her arms and legs normally," the federation said, but the severity of her wrist and knee injuries cannot be assessed "until her cervical spine has stabilised".

Skiing in limited visibility on the second day of training ahead three World cup races this weekend, Gisin, the Olympic combined gold medallist in 2018 and 2022, lost control at more than 100 kmh(62 mph) and crashed through a safety net. She was treated at the side of the piste and did not lose consciousness.

After achieving only two podium finishes last season, the second of them a third place in the slalom in Are in Sweden in March 2024, Gisin decided to abandon the technical events to focus on speed.

She was due to start her season in St. Moritz with downhill races on Friday and Saturday, followed by a super-G on Sunday.

On the first training day on Wednesday, she achieved the best time among the Swiss women - 13th fastest overall - in a session dominated by American Lindsey Vonn.

The Swiss team has lost its two other reigning Olympic champions in quick succession: Lara Gut-Behrami (super-G)underwent surgery on a season-ending left knee injury last week, and Corinne Suter (downhill) fell last Wednesday during training on the same slope in St. Moritz.

Despite suffering a torn left calf, a bruised left knee and a "non-displaced fracture at the back of her right foot", Suter will not undergo surgery. She could be back on her skis in "about a month", according to the Swiss Ski Federation and and could compete at the 2026 Olympics in Milan Cortina.

F.Moura--PC