Winter Olympics 2026 loses defending super-G champion Lara Gut-Behrami after a devastating knee injury halts her career plans. The 34-year-old Swiss skier ruptured a cruciate ligament and tore multiple ligaments during a training crash last week. Her absence reshapes the alpine skiing landscape heading into Milano Cortina.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Injury occurred during super-G training at Copper Mountain, Colorado on November 21, 2025
- Ruptured cruciate ligament, medial ligament, and meniscus in her left knee requires surgery
- 48 World Cup gold medals across three disciplines throughout her elite career
- Milano Cortina 2026 runs from February 6-22 with alpine events in Cortina d’Ampezzo
The Training Crash That Changed Everything
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Lara Gut-Behrami suffered the catastrophic knee injury last Thursday during a routine super-G training session. The crash happened at Copper Mountain in Colorado while she prepared for the World Cup season. Initial medical assessments confirmed severe ligament damage requiring immediate intervention.
The Swiss Ski Federation announced the injury details publicly, confirming she would require surgery. Gut-Behrami acknowledged the severity of her condition and the need for knee surgeries to repair the torn cruciate and medial ligaments plus meniscus damage in her left knee.
A Career-Defining Moment for the Super-G Champion
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The 2022 Beijing Olympic super-G gold medallist had planned to retire after the 2025-26 season. Gut-Behrami was Switzerland’s first-ever Olympic super-G champion and held 48 World Cup victories across downhill, super-G, and giant slalom. Her presence at Milano Cortina would have made her a strong medal contender in multiple events.
Gut-Behrami remained philosophical about her situation, expressing gratitude that this injury wasn’t as tragic as recent fatal accidents in alpine skiing. She stated her goal was full recovery and returning to peak performance, leaving her future uncertain.
| Achievement | Detail |
| Olympic Gold Medals | 1 (Super-G, Beijing 2022) |
| World Cup Victories | 48 across three disciplines |
| Specialization | Speed events (Downhill, Super-G) |
| Career Stage | Planned retirement after 2025-26 season |
Impact on Milano Cortina 2026 Alpine Competition
The absence of Switzerland’s two-time World Cup champion removes a major medal threat from the women’s alpine events. Milano Cortina will feature ten alpine skiing events from February 6-22, with women competing at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Without Gut-Behrami, the super-G title remains wide open.
Alpine skiing observers note this creates opportunities for other elite skiers to claim medals in her absence. The women’s super-G, giant slalom, and downhill events will showcase different competitors than initially expected when Gut-Behrami was training at full capacity.
Swiss Ski Federation Statement and Recovery Hopes
Swiss Ski confirmed that Gut-Behrami will undergo knee surgery and miss the entire 2025-26 Olympic season. The federation expressed support for the decorated athlete during her rehabilitation process. Medical teams are optimistic about her long-term recovery prospects, though immediate Olympic participation is impossible.
Gut-Behrami’s response focused on putting the injury in perspective, referencing tragic deaths in alpine skiing that had shocked the sport recently. She emphasized that while her knee injury is complex, it pales in comparison to the fatal accidents involving young athletes like Matteo Franzoso and Matilde Lorenz in the past 18 months.
Will This Mark the End of a Remarkable Alpine Skiing Legacy?
The critical question now centers on Gut-Behrami’s return to competitive skiing after recovery. At age 34 and facing major knee surgery, her timeline for comeback remains uncertain. She expressed determination to fully recover and reach peak performance again, but acknowledged only time would reveal whether her career continues.
If surgery is successful, the legendary skier faces an extended rehabilitation period. Returning to elite-level competition at age 35 or older would be exceptional in modern alpine skiing. Her legacy as Switzerland’s first Olympic super-G gold medallist and one of skiing’s most accomplished downhill specialists remains secure regardless of how her recovery unfolds.
Sources
- BBC Sport – Reporting on IOC-recognized Olympic competition updates
- Reuters Sports – Official injury and federation announcement coverage
- ESPN Olympics – Alpine skiing injury and competition analysis
Michael Brown is a seasoned sports journalist bringing years of experience covering professional athletics and sporting culture. With a keen eye for breaking stories and player dynamics, this veteran journalist delivers in-depth analysis and exclusive insights from the world’s biggest sporting events. His passion for the game shines through in every story, keeping fans connected to the action both on and off the field.