Slovakian skier Petra Vlhová, who is Mikaela Shiffrin’s main rival in slalom, crashed and was transported off the hill with an apparent knee injury on Saturday during the first run of a women’s World Cup giant slalom.
Vlhová was “undergoing medical examinations” at a nearby hospital, her team said in an initial statement.
The Olympic slalom champion suffered torn ligaments according to multiple reports and will miss the rest of the season.
Racing in front of 10,000 spectators in Jasná, a resort about 17km (10.5 miles) from her hometown of Liptovský Mikuláš in the Tatra mountains, Vlhová lost balance in a left turn 14 seconds into her run.
The 28-year-old adjusted her position and initially avoided a fall but then leaned backward and went down sideways before sliding into the safety fencing.
Vlhová, who was the 2019 world GS champion and beat Shiffrin to the 2021 overall title, received treatment alongside the course for several minutes before being taking off the hill on a sled. She waved to the spectators when she arrived in the finish area.
Italian skier Federica Brignone, who led the GS season standings coming into the race, also fell early in her run but was unhurt.
Olympic GS champion Sara Hector posted the fastest time in both runs as she led Shiffrin by 1.52 seconds. New Zealand’s Alice Robinson trailed by 2.71 in third.
Many racers struggled on the icy surface of the Lukova 2 course, leading to huge time differences.
The race weekend in Slovakia also includes a slalom on Sunday.
