Saint-Welsh Josua Mettler bids farewell to his season

The day after a dark day in Bormio, marked by spectacular falls, it is time to see the damage. If Cyprien Sarrazin, the most notable case, was operated on successfully, the toll is heavy for Josua Mettler. The 26-year-old Saint-Gallois, who fell in the same place as the Frenchman during the second downhill training in the Lombard resort on Friday, seriously injured his knees.

Repatriated to Switzerland following his fall, he underwent in-depth examinations at the Hirslanden clinic in Zurich. These revealed that he suffered, at the level of both joints, from a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament as well as a tear of the internal ligament and the internal meniscus, Swiss-Ski communicated.

“An operation is inevitable,” comments Swiss-Ski team doctor Walter O. Frey, specifying that it will take place next week.

Consequently, Josua Mettler will no longer put on skis this season. The skier from Toggenburg, who has a total of 25 World Cup starts in his career, had participated in the first two descents of the winter (53rd at Beaver Creek at the beginning of November then 24th at Val Gardena last weekend).

Fate has not been kind to Andrea Ellenberger (31) either. The Nidwaldens also took to the mat on Friday in training, near Obdach (Austria) on the eve of the giant Semmering. Victim of a broken right leg, a sprained left knee and several serious bruises, she was operated on the same day.

“There will now be a rehabilitation phase of several months, so that Andrea Ellenberger will no longer be able to participate in the races this season,” specifies Walter O. Frey, quoted by Swiss-Ski.