Sofia Goggia underwent “successful” surgery to reduce “a displaced multi-fragmentary articular fracture of the right tibial pilon”, and will have to remain still for 40 days before starting the most active part of physiotherapy. Fisi made it known after the fall during training in Ponte di Legno. «Another injury that interrupts my pursuit of a new downhill World Cup – declared the unfortunate champion from Bergamo before entering the operating room -, but this time too I will be able to get back up».
The operation, Federsci informs, was perfectly successful, a plate with seven screws was applied to the athlete. Goggia was engaged in the third lap of the first day of training on the Casola Nera slope in Pontedilegno and while she was negotiating a curve to the right, her right ski got caught in a door, causing her to fall. «It’s always sad when an athlete gets hurt – said the president of the Fisi, Flavio Roda -. Sofia, in particular, was in a very positive moment: strong in speed and also improved in giant slalom. It’s a real shame, this injury. We hope it will be resolved in the best possible way.”
Season compromised
The ski World Cup season for Sofia Goggia can be considered effectively over. While awaiting the outcome of the operation and the precise prognosis, according to medical protocols, breaking the tibia and malleolus entails a 4-month stoppage: several weeks of rest and, subsequently, others of rehabilitation.
It is therefore unlikely that the Italian skier will be able to retain the title of champion in the downhill. There are four races left at the end of the season, including the final in Saalbach on March 24, each of which awards 100 points to the winner, 80 to the second and so on through the subsequent positions. Goggia is currently leader of the World Cup freestyle ranking, with 350 points, only 89 more than her closest pursuer, the Austrian Stephanie Venier who has 261. Behind them is the Swiss Lara Gut-Behrami who has 209 .