Gisin, Pietilae-Holmner out for season with knee injuries

By Published On: January 18th, 2012Comments Off on Gisin, Pietilae-Holmner out for season with knee injuries

Dominique GisinThe women’s World Cup tour has lost two of its brightest stars for the season due to knee injuries. Both Swiss speed skier Dominique Gisin and Swede tech specialist Maria Pietilae-Holmner will miss the remainder of the race season while rehabbing their respective injuries.  

Gisin, a three-time World Cup winner, initially hurt her left knee during a downhill training run last Friday in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. After competing in Saturday’s downhill, she returned to Switzerland for evaluation where doctors discovered more damage than previously suspected.

“The deep cartilage injuries have been treated today by stimulation process. In addition, we had to remove a portion of the meniscus,” said Dr. Luke Weisskopf following Gisin’s surgery yesterday.

Pietilae-Holmner, a two-time World championships medalist, injured her knee Tuesday when she crashed while training giant slalom in Hinterriet, Austria. She received an MRI in Innsbruck where doctors found she had torn her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

“This season is over but I knew immediately that I should come back, stronger than ever,” said Pietilae-Holmner.

Pietilae Holmner will fly back to Sweden on Wednesday to be examined further by the Alpine national team doctor Per Liljeholm, who will decide when a surgery is scheduled. 

“It’s really boring and it feels hard, of course. I had started the season so well and now after the new year with half of the races left, it felt a bit like a fresh start,” said Pietilae-Holmner. “I’ll try to see the positive and fight on. Even now I feel that this life is the best available and that I really want to go back.”

“This is the first ligament injury for me but there are many on the World Cup, who have had the same problem and come back. For example, consider Jessica Lindell Vikarby who pulled ligament twice and is back stronger than ever today. Knowing this makes me feel extra motivated,” said Pietilae-Holmner.

Image by Gepa

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About the Author: Eric Williams