Goetschl injures knees, but may still race

By Published On: March 1st, 2007Comments Off on Goetschl injures knees, but may still race

Austria’s veteran Renate Goetschl slightly injured both her knees during a crash at the beginning of her second training run Thursday after losing control of her skis in the upper part of the Prampero course.
TARVISIO, Italy — Austria’s veteran Renate Goetschl slightly injured both her knees during a crash at the beginning of her second training run Thursday after losing control of her skis in the upper part of the Prampero course.
     The speed specialist made a mistake at the fourth gate of the Italian course and slid down the slope with her right ski dragging behind her. Her team captain Herbert Mandl said the former world champion suffered a slight injury to her right meniscus and also damaged cartilage in her left knee, yet he was hoping to see her racing this weekend in the three events planned from Friday to Sunday.
    “I made a mistake, it was my own fault,” she said before limping out of the finish area. “I lost control over my skis and crashed. It hurts a lot now, but it doesn’t feel like something major.
    “I really hope to compete in the super combined tomorrow and then in the downhill and super G afterward. We have to check it later on, but I hope it’s not too serious.”
    Goetschl, who has won six races this winter and scored her 100th World Cup podium at San Sicario in January when she finished second in a super G won by Lindsey Kildow, is already assured of the season super G title. USA’s Julia Mancuso can mathematically catch Goetschl in the downhill standings. Goetschl has a lead of 134 points over the Californian, who clocked the second-fastest time Thursday in training, .03 behind Italy’s Daniela Merighetti. Two downhills remain to be raced here and in Lenzerheide. It would be Goetschl’s eighth specialty World Cup title since 1999.
     The 31-year-old also has a strong chance to capture her second overall crown after the one won back in March 2000. She is only 33 points behind her teammate Marlies Schild, the new slalom World Cup champion and favorite for Friday’s super combined along with Mancuso and Sweden’s Anja Paerson.
     Goetschl won a couple of traditional combined events in 2002 but she preferred focusing on the speed events.
    Goetschl has not crashed for a long time. Last year, she endured a minor right knee injury after the Torino Olympics following a small injury at Cortina d’ Ampezzo three weeks prior the Games.

Share This Article

About the Author: Pete Rugh