In a concerning turn of events for the winter sports community, Swiss skier Michelle Gisin, a two-time Olympic champion, was airlifted to safety following a serious crash during a practice run for an upcoming World Cup downhill event in St. Moritz. The incident occurred on Thursday, when Gisin was racing at speeds exceeding 110 kilometers per hour (approximately 69 miles per hour) on a notably cloudy day.
During the practice session aimed at preparing for competitions slated for Friday and Saturday, Gisin experienced a loss of control while approaching a left-hand turn. Reports indicate that one of her skis caught an edge, propelling her directly into the safety nets lined along the course. Despite the alarming nature of the crash, early reports confirmed that she remained conscious and was attended to by medical personnel at the scene, displaying only superficial injuries consisting of scratches and cuts.
Gisin’s accident marks the third notable crash involving members of the Swiss women’s Alpine ski team in a rather short period. Her teammates, Lara Gut-Behrami and Corinne Suter, have also faced training setbacks due to their respective crashes in recent weeks. Gisin, who previously clinched gold medals in Alpine combined at two consecutive Winter Games, now assumes a crucial leadership role on the Swiss speed team amid the injuries of her fellow Olympic champions.
The competition context is particularly intense, as both Gut-Behrami and Suter have been sidelined with significant injuries – Gut-Behrami having sustained damage to her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during practice at Copper Mountain, Colorado, and Suter facing a series of injuries from a prior training accident at St. Moritz.
Historically, the Swiss team has been a dominant force in women’s Alpine skiing, boasting a total of seven Olympic medals in the sport. Gisin’s crash coincided with the presence of American skiing icon Lindsey Vonn, who had begun her practice run just moments before. Vonn, who notably performed well during the initial practice, paused her run to allow Gisin to receive urgent medical attention.
As the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina draw closer, the discussion surrounding athlete safety in skiing continues to be paramount. The tragic loss of Italian skier Matteo Franzoso earlier in the season has intensified the debate about safety measures necessary in the high-speed environment of competitive skiing. Prominent skier Mikaela Shiffrin voiced concerns regarding the training conditions, emphasizing the need for improvements in safety protocols to mitigate risks.
With the women’s Alpine skiing race set to kick off the Milan-Cortina Olympics on February 6, the sports community remains vigilant, committed to ensuring the safety of athletes while retaining the thrill of competition.
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