Austrian alpine skier Katharina Liensberger, who has been decorated with medals from the Olympics, World Championships, and World Cup circuits, has been sidelined by an injury that will end her season. Known for her prowess in slalom and giant slalom, Liensberger was widely tipped as a top contender for gold in both events at the upcoming Olympics.
The Details Of Katharina Liensberger’s Injury
Liensberger had been gearing up for the Kranjska Gora World Cup in Slovenia, where she was set to tackle the giant slalom. However, her season came to an abrupt halt after she sustained her injury during preparations for the event.
Her most recent race was on Sunday, December 28th, where she narrowly missed the podium with a 4th place finish in the Semmering World Cup slalom. Her season has seen its ups and downs, with her previous best coming at Copper Mountain, clocking in just over two seconds behind slalom champion Mikaela Shiffrin.
As per Sky Sports Austria, the 28-year-old ski racer sustained severe injuries to her right knee in a fall during giant slalom training for the ÖSV technical team in St. Michael/Lungau on Friday, while preparing for the Kranjska Gora World Cup . Doctors diagnosed her with a tibial plateau fracture, a meniscus tear, and a medial collateral ligament tear, with a surgery scheduled for this Friday, effectively ruling her out for the season.
The injury will come as a huge blow for Liensberger, who was looking to compete in her third Olympics and add to her tally of three medals at the Games. Other Austrian talents, such as Lisa Zimmermann, Julia Scheib, or Franziska Gritsch, could replace her at the Games if they perform well ahead of the Games.
The Message Liensberger Sent After Semmering Race
Liensberger’s 4th-place finish at the Semmering World Cup was her best result of the season, with the Austrian enjoying multiple top finishes at this venue over the years. She also competed in the giant slalom in Semmering on Sunday, finishing in 14th place.
After her impressive performance in the slalom, Liensberger took to Instagram to share a message:
“4th place in the slalom and 14th in the giant slalom at Semmering ⛷️ – a beautiful, emotional and very special way to close the year. 💫 The atmosphere was amazing, so much energy, excitement and support– pure joy and good vibes 😍🙏,” she wrote.
Liensberger described racing in Semmering as a true gift and expressed heartfelt gratitude to her fans for their unwavering support. As of now, she has yet to comment on the abrupt end to her season.
