Olympic skier, 30, in intensive care following horror head injury

French skier Cyprien Sarrazin, who previously competed in the Olympics, has suffered a serious head injury and had to be airlifted to hospital with the incident shining a light on the suitability of the course

By: irishmirror.ie

Dec 28 2024
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Olympic skier, 30, in intensiv

French skier Cyprien Sarrazin was airlifted and taken to intensive care after suffering a serious head injury in Italy.

The horrible accident took place after a crash during training for a World Cup downhill race on Friday in Bormio. It led to some worrying scenes on the Stelvio slope, which is set to be used for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The French ski federation said the 30-year-old was conscious but was diagnosed with a subdural hematoma, which is bleeding near the brain. Sarrazin had to be flown to the nearest medical facility.

It was quickly decided that the Olympian would need to be operated on Friday evening following further examinations, according to information provided by the sport's governing body FIS. Pietro Zazzi was another man who had to be taken to a hospital via a helicopter after another crash.

The Italian ski federation said Zazzi suffered "a compound fracture of the tibia and fibula of his right leg". He was taken to Milan, where he will undergo surgery on Saturday. Swiss skier Josua Mettler was the third man to crash on Friday before being taken back home for further tests on a knee injury.

The incidents have seen serious questions asked about safety of Stelvio's downhill piste, which will be the course for next winter's Milan-Cortina Olympics.

Sarrazin's team-mate Nils Allegre was scathing about the course when he discussed the incident: "My opinion here is clear, it's that they don't know how to prepare a course. It's been 40 years that they have been preparing courses, but they don't know how to do anything, apart from dangerous things.

"Maybe it's not something everyone agrees with but it's my opinion and it's deep-seated. It's not right, I don't know what they're trying to prove, but a year ahead of organising the Olympics, having a course like this - they don't deserve to have the Olympic Games here.

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