American star Mikaela Shiffrin suffered a “puncture wound to the right side of her abdomen” and “severe muscle trauma” after crashing out of the giant slalom in Killington, Vermont on Saturday.
The two-time Olympic champion had been seeking a record-extending 100th World Cup win and looked well placed to reach the milestone before falling and crashing into safety netting on her second run.
Shiffrin, 29, left the slope on a rescue sledge before being assessed at a medical clinic.
She was leading after the first run and had looked set for victory before the accident.
“Following her crash in yesterday’s giant slalom at the Stifel Killington Cup, Mikaela was taken down by sled and transferred by ambulance to be evaluated at Rutland Regional Medical Center,” US Ski & Snowboard said on Sunday.
“There was no ligament damage assessed. Bones and internal organs look OK. There is a puncture wound into the right side of her abdomen and severe muscle trauma.”
Shiffrin had earlier reassured fans in a social media post on Saturday evening.
“Not really too much cause for concern at this point, I just can’t move,” she said. “I have a pretty good abrasion and something stabbed me.
“I am so sorry to scare everybody and it looks like all scans so far are clear, so thank you for the support and concern.”
She added she would not be taking part in Sunday’s slalom event, which she has won six times out of seven at Killington.
Sweden’s Sara Hector, the reigning Olympic champion, won Saturday’s giant slalom.
“It’s so sad of course for Mikaela, a crash like that after she was skiing so well. It breaks my heart,” she said. (BBC)
