Broken knees: Stelvio requires further operations

The Swiss celebrated an outstanding double victory by Alexis Monney and Franjo von Allmen in the downhill race in Bormio. But a little later, the Swiss camp received sad news.

29 December 2024

From: do

The notorious Stelvio in Bormio claimed several prominent victims during training on Friday. The Frenchman Cyprien Sarrazin and the Italian Pietro Zazzi fell heavily and had to be transported by helicopter. Sarrazin suffered a subdural hematoma and has already undergone surgery, while Zazzi suffered fractures of his fibula and tibia. It has now been announced that a Swiss athlete will also have to go under the knife after his encounter with the Stelvio.

Josua Mettler fell in the same place as Sarrazin during Friday's training. At first it seemed as if the Swiss had gotten off lightly. The 26-year-old even rode the remaining sections to the finish on his own. But after the fall he complained of increasing knee pain, which on closer examination revealed serious injuries.

surgery on both knees

According to the sport.ch Examinations of both knee joints revealed that Mettler had suffered tears of the anterior cruciate ligament, the medial collateral ligament and the medial meniscus on both the left and right sides. The Swiss team doctor stated in a statement: "An operation on both knee joints is unavoidable and is already planned for next week."

It is unlikely that the Swiss will be on skis again this winter.