Leitinger’s Season Cut Short by Knee Injury

World Cup GS skier Roland Leitinger seriously injured his knee in a  freeskiing crash at Reiteralm on Thursday. The Austrian suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear in his right knee, ending the Olympic season prematurely.

“There is no right time for an injury, but that’s incredibly bitter,” said Leitinger.

Leitinger already had an ACL tear in his left knee in 2011. The 26-year-old will undergo surgery in Innsbruck, Austria, Thursday evening by team doctor Christian Fink.

Leitinger’s best GS result of the season was a 12th-place finish in Alta Badia, Italy. He also earned a silver medal in the 2017 World Championship giant slalom.

Release courtesy of the Austrian Ski Federation