Austrian Skier Liensberger Out of Olympics with Knee Injury

Austria's Katharina Liensberger, a 2022 Olympic slalom silver medalist, will miss the upcoming Milano Cortina Winter Olympics after sustaining a serious knee injury in a training crash in St. Michael, Austria.

The 28-year-old skier fractured her tibial plateau, tore her meniscus and damaged her medial collateral ligament in her right knee during a giant slalom training session on Thursday. The Austrian Ski Association announced that Liensberger underwent surgery on Friday following medical evaluations. Officials from the International Ski and Snowboard Federation confirmed the injuries would sideline her for the remainder of the season, just one month before the Games begin in Italy.

Liensberger's absence represents a significant setback for Austria's women's alpine team. She had been a consistent performer this season, finishing fourth in the World Cup slalom in Semmering, Austria, on December 28, and placing in the top 10 four times overall. According to FIS standings, she ranked 15th in the overall World Cup, 10th in slalom and 18th in giant slalom, making her Austria's second-highest ranked women's skier behind Cornelia Huetter.

The injury occurred amid a string of...