At only 25 years old: Downhill ace threatens to end his career

While the Ski World Cup rushes from one highlight to the next, a Swiss talent is threatened with the end of his career.

22 December 2024

From: det

Downhill races in Val Gardena are an absolute classic in the Ski World Cup. When the best athletes in the world throw themselves down the famous Saslong at horrendous speeds, the fans watch very closely. It was precisely this spectacle that caused a sensation three years ago, when a young Swiss man was the one who caused a sensation. Yannick Chabloz, who is considered a great talent in his country's downhill team, raced to 43th place with starting number 13, thus making his first big statement on the big ski stage.

But the world now looks very different. Chabloz is facing the end of his career at just 25 years of age. The reason for this is a fall in Bormio in which the Swiss suffered back injuries - including to his thoracic spine - in December 2022. Since then, he has not started any races.

Chabloz was in action at the 2022 Olympic Games. © AFP / FABRICE COFFRINI

Now the Swiss downhill coach Vitus Lüönd has spoken out against View and said, "that we will definitely not see him on any race track this winter." Chabloz has now lost nine kilograms of muscle mass, reports Lüönd. "I fear that we will never see Yannick at the start of a World Cup race again." That would be a bitter end to the career of a ski talent who has been plagued by bad luck.

Schlagwörter: Winter sports Alpine skiing Yannick Chabloz