Hronek tears ACL in World Champs team event

VAIL, Colo.  – German all-around skier Veronique Hronek suffered a season-ending injury during the team event at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Vail on Tuesday afternoon.

In the opening heat of competition, Hronek’s center of mass dropped low over the tails of her skis and she suffered a knee injury in the process. The Germany team, which also included Felix Neureuther, Viktoria Rebensburg, and Linus Strasser, did not advance past their first round match-up against Canada. Neureuther was critical of the coaches’ decision to start Hronek instead of 2013 World Cup City Event Moscow winner Lena Duerr, who was also on the team’s roster.

Following an MRI at the hospital in Vail, German team physician and knee specialist Dr. Ernst-Otto Muench diagnosed Hronek with a torn ACL in her left knee. She suffered the same injury to the same knee just 14 months earlier in a crash during the 2013 Val d’Isere World Cup giant slalom race. Hronek finished 11th in the super G and 13th in the alpine combined at the World Championships just last week.

Hronek is currently on her way home to Germany, where further investigation will take place at the Orthopedic Surgery Center in Munich. Surgery is expected to be performed on the athlete.