Injured Moltzan leaves world championships

Paula Moltzan shares the Semmering podium with Mikaela Shiffrin and Lena Duerr: GEPA Photos

Stifel US Alpine Team star Paula Moltzan has made an announcement addressing her attempt to race in tomorrow’s FIS Alpine World Ski Championships slalom. Moltzan broke her left hand while skiing her gold medal-winning run during the mixed team parallel. She then opted to have a brace made and ski the giant slalom and attempt to ski Saturday’s slalom. However, after training, she realized it wouldn’t be enough. She is returning to the US to have surgery.

Moltzan is a veteran, but this season has shown that she is emerging as one of the fastest slalom skiers in the world and approaching the same level in giant slalom. Moltzan earned her first career World Cup podium this season in Semmering, Austria. She is having the best year of her career and was undoubtedly a podium threat in tomorrow’s race. However, Moltzan will be returning to the US as a World Champion.

Moltzan’s absence from the final event is certainly a blow to the podium opportunities of the US team but she fought like a tiger to ski and it didn’t work out.

Moltzan’s 2022-23 top ten World championship and World Cup results

click on image to enlarge

Moltzan’s statement on Instagram.

Heartbreaking.
In the gold medal run of the team event I fractured my left hand. My team and I have done everything to make the slalom happen tomorrow, but it isn’t enough. The pain is too much when I ski.
I am headed to Vail tomorrow to have it operated it on.
See ya in Åre!
Thank you so much to all my friends, family, and team for all of the support.