Italy’s Buzzi Injured After Career Result in Wengen

Italian speed skier Emanuelle Buzzi had the race of life on Saturday, January 19, and immediately suffered a massive setback. The 24-year-old Italian crossed the finish line of the Lauberhorn downhill in Wengen, Switzerland, in a career-best sixth place before losing control and crashing into the finish barriers, fracturing his right tibial plateau.

Buzzi appeared to initially be simply stuck in the inflatable barriers encircling the finish area, but the Italian was clearly in pain and organizers halted the race while he was helicoptered to the hospital in nearby Interlaken for further evaluation. Buzzi suffered the same injury last March after a crash at World Cup finals in Are, Sweden.

According to the Italian Ski Federation (FISI) Buzzi will undergo a surgery and further tests to verify the stability of his ligaments. Buzzi was the fastest Italian finisher in Saturday’s downhill in Wengen.

FISI contributed information to this story.