German veteran Hilde Gerg suffers knee injury

German veteran Hilde Gerg suffers knee injury{mosimage}German alpine veteran Hilde Gerg suffered a serious knee injury Wednesday, Nov. 16, when she fell during super G training at Copper Mountain, Colorado.

The 30-year-old skier, who has won 20 World Cup races in her career, is one of Germany’s best hopes for a medal at the Torino Games in February.

Andreas Ertl of Germany also injured his knee on Wednesday, but the extent of his injury is not yet known.

‘Whether I’ll be able to compete at the Olympics will depend on the results of further tests’ said Gerg, who is expected to return to Germany.

Gerg damaged her right knee, and was taken to the Steadman-Hawkins Clinic in Vail, where Dr. Richard Steadman diagnosed her with meniscus, ligament and bone damage. ‘It is a very complex injury’ Steadman said in a German ski team release.

‘The injury and the associated loss of Hilde Gerg is a large setback for the speed crew’ said Wolfgang Maier, head coach of the German women’s team. ‘This loss hurts us.’

Ertl, 30, also injured his knee on Wednesday while training. Ertl was training giant slalom in Nakiska, Canada. According to the German ski team, he is on his way to Munich for further examinations from tea doctor Ernst-Otto Muench.

The German team won the inaugural team event at last year’s World Championships in Bormio, Italy, but has had a string of bad luck since then, with injuries to Maria Riesch and the retirement of two of its best male skiers, Florian Eckert and Max Rauffer.