The American, currently leader in the overall World Cup, fell in the panoramic curve and hit the safety net violently.
Shiffrin, who started with number eight, was unable to leave the scene of the fall immediately and had to be given first aid. TV images then showed the 28-year-old hobbling off the slopes on her sticks. Shiffrin was unable to put any weight on her left leg. Shortly followingwards, Olympic champion Corinne Suter also suffered damage to her knee in the same place. Serious injuries were feared for the two top runners.
Venier won thanks to the hussar ride
Stephanie Venier took the victory in Cortina d’Ampezzo thanks to a hussar ride in the final section, 0.37 seconds ahead of the Swiss Lara Gut-Behrami. Christina Ager came third with the Italian Sofia Goggia and the Canadian Valerie Grenier (both +0.71) and thus made it onto the World Cup podium for the first time. The 30-year-old Venier celebrated almost exactly five years following her only previous World Cup victory, when the Tyrolean won the downhill race in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (January 27, 2019).
“I had a good feeling, but I didn’t expect it to be enough for first place,” said Venier in his first reaction on ORF. The second from Zauchensee was already doing well in training on Wednesday as second. “I tried to keep up the speed,” she said. Venier also brought an end to a long dry spell for Austria’s downhill skiers. Nicole Schmidhofer was the last athlete to win in the fastest discipline in Lake Louise just over four years ago. The second downhill run (10.30 a.m.) is on the program in Cortina on Saturday, followed by a Super-G on Sunday (10.30 a.m. / live on ORF 1).
“Downhill sports are risky sports”
On the Tofana, the second training session on Thursday was canceled due to warm temperatures and strong winds. The fast route surprised the first runners in bright sunshine. Cornelia Hütter, who started with number six, also had problems in the middle section and lost her line following a jump. “The pace from top to bottom is higher, it gets down to business. But downhill sport is a risky sport. That’s how it is with us,” said the Styrian, who ended up eighth. Mirjam Puchner also made it into the top ten in ninth place.
Shiffrin, who was the eighth runner at the start, was taking part in a speed race for the fourth time this winter. The American lost her balance following a bump before the second split, fell and hit the safety net. She was treated for several minutes and then limped off the slope, partly supported by carers, her face contorted in pain. She was then transported away by the rescue helicopter for more detailed examinations. The race was interrupted for a long time.
Brignone dropped out early
Federica Brignone also finished her run in the snow before Suter also got hit. The Swiss woman stopped her descent early following landing following a long jump, grabbed her knee and screamed in pain. She also had to be transported away by helicopter. Four of the first eleven runners dropped out; Ester Ledecka was not at the start.
Gut-Behrami then drove tactically, chose the right line and recorded the best time. Goggia then drove more cautiously and finished second. Venier came with number 18. The Tyrolean was initially behind the leader, but then distanced Gut-Behrami by a good six tenths of a second in the lower part and thus moved into first place.
