Teresa Runggaldier in an interview. © Private

She's back: Runggaldier had "never lost faith"

At the peak of her skiing career, Teresa Runggaldier was forced to take a two-year break due to a horrific injury. Thanks in part to a tip from a prominent teammate, she is now back in team training. The 27-year-old spoke to SportNews about this difficult time – and how she managed to stay positive.

August 13, 2026

From the Mulin da Coi sports centre

Skiing is thrilling, emotional, and never fails to amaze spectators. At the same time, however, it can be incredibly cruel. Teresa Runggaldier achieved her breakthrough in 2024 after many ups and downs, consistently scoring points in the World Cup and even coming close to the top 10 in two races. The following winter was supposed to catapult her to the top of the sport. Instead, she suffered such a severe injury that she was sidelined for two entire seasons.

She injured her cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament, meniscus, and tibia in a serious fall during a training camp in Copper Mountain. The complete tear of her right knee resulted in a long rehabilitation with pain that has still not completely subsided. Doctors were unable to find an explanation for the bone edema and tendonitis for a long time – until Christof Innerhofer's tip from a doctor proved crucial.

Homeopathic treatment in Germany

“In Germany, I received a total of five homeopathic injections based on arnica and calendula from Dr. Florian Müller. Each time I felt a little better until I was able to stop the treatment in January because I no longer had any pain while skiing,” reports the woman from Wolkenstein. She currently still feels the injury when activating her hamstrings during conditioning training, but “it’s not getting worse again.” Nevertheless, she will see Dr. Müller again this Thursday to be on the safe side before her departure for Ushuaia, Argentina.

Teresa Runggaldier is looking forward to the new season. © Private

When the 27-year-old speaks these words after dry-land training at the Mulin da Coi sports center, the positivity and confidence she radiates are striking. Asked if she ever doubted her comeback during those two years, she answers with a resolute no. "I had the pain, but I was basically able to do everything. You get used to that kind of routine. And although it hurts to have to watch the races on TV, you're ultimately happy that you're always taking small steps forward." The only thing that really bothered Runggaldier during this time, she adds with a smile, was having to sleep on her back.

“I wasn’t afraid and there was great joy at the finish line.” Teresa Runggaldier on her comeback as a forerunner

The Val Gardena native passed her first real test at the beginning of March this year: at the home World Cup on the San Pellegrino Pass, she got her first taste of racing in 16 months as a forerunner. "That wasn't easy, because as a forerunner you have to test the course a day before the first training run. This gives the organizers the chance to fine-tune any jumps. So we're like guinea pigs," Runggaldier explains. Diffuse light, bumpy snow conditions, and the complete absence of blue lines along the course didn't deter Runggaldier from launching herself down the VolatA. "It was the first time I'd had downhill skis on my feet since my injury. Although it was difficult because of the conditions, I wasn't afraid. There was great joy at the finish."

Some doubts remain.

The speed specialist hopes to experience such moments of joy again next winter, wearing her bib number. She admits she's been thinking a lot about the upcoming season. "I've been thinking about it because I'm aware of its importance. My biggest wish is to get back to where I was before the injury. At the same time, I'm afraid that after this long break I'll put too much pressure on myself and things won't go as well right away. But I think these doubts are normal." Especially since, with only 19 World Cup starts, she doesn't yet have a wealth of experience.

Teresa Runggaldier celebrated her greatest success in Crans-Montana. © Pentaphoto

Due to the warm summer and the adverse conditions on the European glaciers, she too had limited opportunities to prepare for the new season. In May, Runggaldier, a member of the Italian national team, spent ten days in Les Deux Alpes. She also trained twice with the Italian Financial Police. She is therefore all the more excited about the upcoming training camp in South America. "I would have gone to Ushuaia last year if I had passed the isokinetic test before my departure. I received this approval, which is meant to guarantee the stability and safety of my knee, during the winter."

Finally, Runggaldier has one more curious anecdote to share. When I ask her about the 2027 World Championships in Crans-Montana, she's surprised. "I didn't know the World Championships were being held there because I prefer not to know the World Cup calendar," she reveals. The slope in the World Championship venue suits the South Tyrolean skier, who achieved her best World Cup result of eleventh place on Mont Lachaux in 2024. However, she doesn't want to think that far ahead anyway. "Ideally, I'd only know where we're going a few days before the races so I don't overthink it," she emphasizes in conclusion.