Injured in South Tyrol: Ski star fears for Olympics

A German giant slalom specialist is in danger of missing the Winter Olympics.

19 January 2026

From: dpa

Alexander Schmid suffered a hairline fracture in his ankle during a lower-level race last week. The 31-year-old from the Allgäu region revealed this during the Olympic outfitting event in Munich. Wearing a splint and using crutches, he collected his clothing for the Winter Games, which begin in February.

Despite the injury, he believes he can make a comeback at the Olympics in Bormio. "I'm very positive," Schmid explained. Three specialists have told him that a recovery in time for the races in northern Italy is possible. "I think I should definitely get the green light." Further tests are scheduled for this week; then he will decide whether he can compete in the final giant slalom World Cup race before the Olympics in Schladming the following week.

Schmid, along with fellow German giant slalom specialist Fabian Gratz, slalom skier Linus Straßer, and downhill skier Simon Jocher, had met the qualifying standard set by the German Olympic Sports Confederation. Schmid is the 2023 parallel world champion; he previously competed in the 2018 and 2022 Winter Games. Four years ago in Beijing, he won the silver medal in the team parallel event.

In Gsies injured

Schmid competed in the World Cup giant slalom in Adelboden just a few days ago, but was eliminated in the second run. Last Wednesday and Thursday, he then competed in FIS races in Gsies in the Puster Valley. As he explained, he straddled a gate in the slalom there and suffered a serious injury to his right ankle. Schmid had only just made a comeback this season after a cruciate ligament injury.

Keywords Winter sports Alpine skiing Gsies Olympics 2026