The seemingly innocent exit of Benjamin Raich in the team event at the World Championships is much more serious than it appeared and he will be on crutches for “several weeks,” according to Austrian team doctor Karl Gosler before rehabilitation can begin.

The Austrian team is reporting tore his left anterior cruciate ligament, sustained a “cartilage demolition of the external tibial” and sustained an outer tear of his meniscal ligament.
 
“I am very upset,” said Raich. “I was coming directly from the Championships and have had two great chances. Unfortunately it’s over now. It’s a relatively serious injury. Such a thing can happen anytime and anywhere, even in training. This is obviously bad for everybody.”

Dr. Golser said surgery would take place this afternoon and added the cartilage demolition was “very small.” In a joint statement Austrian team leader Hans Pum and head coach Mathias Berthold said, “This injury is another blow for Benni himself and for the team. Absolutely one of our top athletes has been lost.”

Raich had finished fifth in super G and fourth in the combined at these Championships and was the defending silver medalist for GS. He was the World Slalom Champion in 2005.