After 5 operations: Gasslitter's suffering is coming to an end

The disaster began on December 4, 2016: In the Super-G in Lake Louise, the Castelrotto native twisted her left knee on the last jump and tore her cruciate ligament. The beginning of a period of suffering that continues to this day.

Gasslitter spoke to SportNews about… … her incredible injury misery: “In December 2016, the cruciate ligament in my knee tore in Lake Louise. I immediately had an operation in Innsbruck afterwards and the injury healed well. After a few months break, I was able to take part in summer training again without any problems. But the next shock came in September 2017: During a training run in Ushuaia (Argentina, editor's note), my skis caught on a wave, my leg twisted and I fractured my tibia and fibula."

In December 2016, the woman from Castelrotto contested her last race to date. © Pentaphoto

... the further course of the injury: “The fractured tibia and fibula were operated on immediately in Argentina. With the injured leg and lots of painkillers, I started the journey back, where I was examined again by my medical examiner. The sobering diagnosis: The wrong operation was carried out in South America. That's why I had to go under the knife again on October 19, 2017. After that everything should have healed, but it didn't. I was in severe pain for weeks and was always on crutches, so I had to have another operation at the end of April 2018. This time I was given another record. Things went up from there.”

… the return to the snow: “In November 2018 I had to undergo another small procedure to take out the screws. I was able to ski a bit again at Christmas. Although I was only on tourist skis, it still felt great. I then did some light training with my teammates at the San Pellegrino Pass or in Bormio, which was a good sign. Last week we went to the Stelvio Pass. I can't train 100 percent yet, that will take a while. What’s important now is simply to get security.”

...thoughts of giving up everything: “After breaking my tibia and fibula, I lay at home for many weeks and couldn’t even get up to eat. When I was lying in bed, the blanket alone often hurt me. I could never imagine that I would be able to ski again someday. I couldn't step on my foot for 20 weeks. When you realize that nothing can be done, you start to think about it. In the end everything changed for the better.”

Physiotherapy has been the order of the day for Gasslitter in recent months.

... important people during this difficult time: “My family, coaches, friends and teammates have stood behind me all this time and encouraged me. I now see light at the end of the tunnel. It will still take some time until everything is back to normal. But now I get up in the morning and I don’t feel any pain – that’s a lot for me.”

… your further recovery schedule: “In the next two weeks I will be doing dry training. I have to look at strengthening my weak points on my lower leg. I think I can still do my first races this year. But what’s important now is to get security.” About Verena Gasslitter: The 22-year-old is considered a gifted speed talent. At the Junior World Championships in Sochi in 2016, she won bronze in the Super-G, and she also has one victory and four other podium places in the European Cup. Although Gasslitter has not competed in races for two and a half years, she is still part of the national team.

Questions: Thomas Debelyak

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After 5 operations: Gasslitter's suffering is coming to an end

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