Mermillod Blondin, Bailet suffer setbacks during early season training

During pre-season training, two French athletes have suffered setbacks in their preparations for the Olympic season.

World Cup speed skier Thomas Mermillod Blondin, who injured his thigh in preparation for the 2016-17 World Cup season, missed all of last year’s competitions. A few weeks ago, the Frenchman finally clicked back into his skis. However, after training sessions in La Parva, Chile, pain in his thigh ramped up again. He announced on Facebook that he will undergo a new procedure on the tendon of his left thigh muscle, and the recovery time is unknown.

World Cup speed skier Margot Bailet also had to cut her South America trip short after crashing in training and tearing an adductor. It could have been worse, she wrote, indicating that she will only need to take a temporary break from skiing in order to heal.