Martin-Luis Walch shows his injured knee. © Instagram/maluwalch

For the 3rd time in 2 years: ÖSV talent seriously injured again

Only four weeks after his comeback, Austrian Martin-Luis Walch is out for a long time again. He injured his left knee during training and had to undergo immediate surgery.

04 December 2024

From: sn

In his Instagram post, he keeps it brief: "I injured my knee during training and had to have surgery on my cruciate ligament and meniscus." After just eleven months since the last injury, this is more than understandable.

After months of rehabilitation and a promising comeback, the young ÖSV athlete is now facing another long break, but giving up is not an option for him.

setbacks galore

The drama began for Walch at the end of 2022: While freeskiing in St. Anton, the cruciate ligament in his left knee tore without warning. After an operation and intensive rehabilitation, the specialist in the fast disciplines worked his way back with impressive commitment. At the end of August 2023, he was back on skis for the first time and carefully prepared for the new season before tearing his cruciate ligament again shortly before the turn of the year.

In November, Walch traveled to Beaver Creek in Canada with the Austrian speed team for final preparations. During a training session, the Vorarlberg native suffered another injury: his already damaged knee could not withstand the strain. In addition to another cruciate ligament tear, his meniscus was also affected. This led to an early end to the season and a long, arduous rehabilitation phase.

Fighting spirit despite renewed shocks

The renewed forced break could be a heavy burden for Walch's career, but his tireless will gives his fans hope. It was not for nothing that Walch was long considered one of the greatest talents of the ÖSV juniors. His performances in junior races and in the European Cup earned him a place in the B squad. He is already one of the greatest rookie athletes.

Now, after the third operation in just over two years, it's time to grit your teeth again. The brevity of his statement gives an indication of Walch's current emotional state. He himself adds: "This is obviously a huge blow. Thank you for all the support." We can only hope that the 21-year-old doesn't start to doubt himself the third time around.