Sarrazin Injured in GS Training

Cyprien Sarrazin, who injured his spine during training in late November, was due to make his return to the World Cup on Sunday in the giant slalom at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. However, the 23-year-old French skier crashed heavily on Thursday morning in Oberjoch, Germany, and will not start Sunday.

According to L’Equipe, the giant slalom specialist suffered a head trauma and lost consciousness. The MRI performed Thursday afternoon revealed micro-bleeding. Sarrazin is expected to spend several days in observation in the intensive care unit of the Garmisch clinic before returning to France.

“We have implemented the concussion protocol that is usually used,” Dr. Stéphane Bulle, a physician for the French Ski Federation, told L’Equipe. “Cyprien had a very brief loss of consciousness, and we give ourselves time to see the evolution in the next hours. He is assisted by Dr. Marine Al Hammoud, who was with the giant team and the facilities of the Garmisch Clinic are excellent. In these cases, you have to give yourself a few days to appreciate the importance of the concussion and the possible consequences.”

Sarazzin won the parallel GS at Alta Badia, Italy, in December 2016 and skied to the 10th in the World Cup Finals GS in Aspen, Color.