Stella Johansson Killington GS GEPA pictures/Matic Klansek

The Stifel U.S. Ski Team member from Aspen, Colorado, Stella Johansson, faced a setback in the first European Cup race of the 2023/24 season. During a giant slalom event in Zinal, Switzerland, on Tuesday, December 5th, the 20-year-old athlete skiing with bib 5 fell during her first run, evidently sustaining an injury to her left knee.

Thick fog added an unexpected twist to the race, forcing the suspension and eventual cancellation of the event after 50 racers had finished their first run.

Following her fall, Johansson, who earned a spot on the U.S. squad this winter and raced in the first runs of the World Cup giant slaloms in Sölden and Killington, clutched her left knee. Despite getting up with the help of a course worker, skiing to the finish was out of the question. Ski patrol personnel swiftly stabilized her left knee with a brace before evacuating her using a rescue sled. A hospital examination will determine the severity of the injury.

A year ago, Johansson kicked off the European Cup season with a second-place finish in the giant slalom in Mayrhofen. Her aspirations for this season included securing a victory in a Europa Cup race and earning her first World Cup points. However, the unfortunate incident in Zinal may pose a challenge to those ambitions. The skiing community awaits updates on Johansson’s condition and wishes her a swift and full recovery.