ST. MICHAEL, Austria — Austrian slalom standout Katharina Liensberger has seen her season come to an abrupt and devastating end after sustaining serious knee injuries during a training crash, effectively ruling her out of upcoming World Cup events and the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) confirmed on Friday that the 28-year-old Olympic silver medalist suffered a fracture to the tibial plateau of her right knee — the critical area where the shin bone meets the knee joint. Medical examinations also revealed a torn meniscus and damage to the medial collateral ligament (MCL), compounding the severity of the injury.
According to FIS, the incident occurred during a giant slalom training session in St. Michael, Austria, just days before the women’s World Cup races scheduled for the weekend in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia. What was meant to be routine preparation quickly turned into a major setback for one of alpine skiing’s most accomplished technical specialists.
Liensberger was scheduled to undergo surgery on Friday, and FIS issued a statement wishing the Austrian skier a successful operation and smooth recovery. While no definitive timeline has been announced for her return to competition, the combination of injuries makes a comeback this season highly unlikely.
The injury also means Liensberger will miss the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, a major blow both to her personal ambitions and Austria’s medal hopes. Liensberger has been one of the sport’s most consistent slalom performers over the past decade and claimed two world championship gold medals in 2021, cementing her place among alpine skiing’s elite.
Her absence leaves a noticeable gap in the slalom field and removes one of the strongest challengers to American superstar Mikaela Shiffrin, particularly in the highly competitive technical disciplines. Liensberger has frequently been among the few skiers capable of matching Shiffrin’s pace on the slalom course, making their rivalry one of the highlights of recent seasons.
The crash is the latest in a series of training incidents involving top-level alpine skiers, reigniting concerns about athlete safety during preparation sessions. While training environments are designed to simulate race conditions, the fine margins between performance and injury remain a persistent risk in the sport.
For Liensberger, the focus now shifts from competition to rehabilitation. Known for her resilience and disciplined approach, the Austrian is expected to tackle recovery with the same determination that has defined her career. However, knee injuries of this nature often require extensive rehabilitation, particularly for athletes whose disciplines demand explosive turns and precise edge control.
As the World Cup season continues without her, teammates, rivals, and fans across the alpine skiing world have expressed support for Liensberger, hoping to see her return to the slopes stronger in the seasons ahead. While her season has ended prematurely, her impact on the sport and potential for future success remain firmly intact.