A picture from days gone by: Stefanie Fleckenstein in her hospital bed. © instagram/stef_fleck

Six months of robotic leg: Update after horror crash

This scene was not for the faint of heart: In the downhill race in Val-d'Isére shortly before the finish, Stefanie Fleckenstein fell heavily in December 2023. Now there is news.

June 19, 2024

From: sportsnews

Fleckenstein’s screams of pain shocked spectators on site and in front of the television (SportNews berichtete). On Instagram, the Canadian now gives another update and summarizes her recovery in a video.

Just in time for Christmas 2023, the 26-year-old received a horror diagnosis: A dislocated knee, several fractures of the shinbone and damaged ligamentsInterestingly, Fleckenstein still managed to achieve her third-best World Cup result of 27th place. Despite the severity of her injuries, Fleckenstein showed remarkable fighting spirit.

"It wasn't bloody, but it was still kind of gross," she wrote on Instagram when she first reported from the hospital a few days after the fall. "The nasty fall at the last gate put me out of action for the rest of the season. I have a lot of thoughts in my head, but I'll save them for when I've run out of morphine in my body."

Since then, Fleckenstein has had to undergo numerous operations to treat her serious injuries. Despite the setbacks and pain, she remained combative and grateful for the support from the skiing community. The Canadian repeatedly uploads training videos of her healing process in which she grimaces in pain.

Rehabilitation progressed slowly

"We did a little surgery to see how my leg was healing and to increase the flexion in my knee," Fleckenstein reported after another procedure in March 2024. "I'm stuck at 90 degrees right now, so it was really exciting to see my knee get full flexion during the surgery."

After six months with her "robot leg," she is now sharing her first progress and optimistic words on Instagram: "I still have a long way to go, but it's very cool to see the progress I've made so far. The last six months have been tough, but they've taught me to recognize the small victories." The 26-year-old is now back on the move without a splint or crutches. Scenes that could not have been imagined after her screams in December.