Schild likely will miss season after breaking left leg

A number of news organizations are reporting that World Cup slalom champion Marlies Schild will miss the upcoming World Cup season after breaking her leg in training on Thursday.
    Schild, 27, crashed during a giant slalom training session near Sölden where the first World Cup races are due to begin on Oct. 26. Reuters reported that the Austrian ski federation said that initial examinations revlealed that Schild had broken both the fibula and tibia bones in her left leg.
    "I hope the fractures are not too serious, but she can forget about this season," Austrian head women's coach Herbert Mandl told the BBC.
A NUMBER of news organizations are reporting that World Cup slalom champion Marlies Schild will miss the upcoming World Cup season after breaking her leg in training on Thursday.
    Schild, 27, crashed during a giant slalom training session near Sölden where the first World Cup races are due to begin on Oct. 26. Reuters reported that the Austrian ski federation said that initial examinations revlealed that Schild had broken both the fibula and tibia bones in her left leg.
    "This is a huge blow for Marlies and the ski federation," Austrian Federation alpine director Hans Pum said. "She was in great form and was in a league of her own in the slalom."
    The federation statement added that Schild had been transferred to Innsbruck for surgery. "In a best-case situation, she will be able to go back to intensive training in six months' time," surgeon Gernot Sperner said following the operation.
    "I hope the fractures are not too serious, but she can forget about this season," Austrian head women's coach Herbert Mandl told the BBC.
    Schild, who is engaged to Austrian double Olympic champion Benjamin Raich, has won the World Cup slalom discipline for the past two seasons.
    Schild has 20 victories on the World Cup in three disciplines during the past four years. She captured a total of 18 victories in slalom event since her first win in March 2004 at the Finals at Sestriere, Italy.  She also won an Olympic bronze medal in the discipline at the 2006 Winter Games along with a silver in the combined event.
    Schild has already overcome several tough injuries in her career. A series of crashes in downhill and six serious knee injuries almost pulled her out from ski racing in the late 1990s – yet she never gave up and successfully fought back in 2002 to become one of the best Austrian slalom specialists on the World Cup tour. 
    "It's too bad for her and the team. She was in great shape and ready to roll," says Schild's fiancee Raich. "She is tough but it's still depressing for her."

    — Patrick Lang contributed to this report