Norway's alpine skier Marte Monsen is scheduled to return to the women's Olympic team in Cortina d'Ampezzo following a crash in Switzerland. The 26-year-old downhiller sustained injuries during a race last Friday but has undergone examinations at home. Her readiness for the upcoming downhill event will be evaluated in the coming days.
In Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, on February 4, the Norwegian national alpine team announced that Marte Monsen will rejoin their women's Olympic squad on Thursday. This comes after she crashed during a downhill race in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, the previous weekend.
Monsen was among the first six starters in the event, where three skiers fell, including American Lindsey Vonn. The race was ultimately cancelled following Vonn's incident. After her fall, Monsen, aged 26, was seen clutching her knees upon release from the safety netting. She was then placed on a stretcher and carried off the course with a bloodied face.
The team stated: "In consultation with the health team, it has been decided that Marte Monsen will leave Norway and join the Norwegian squad in Cortina tomorrow." They added that "Monsen has been home for examinations and follow-up. Over the next few days, it will be assessed whether she is ready for the downhill on Sunday."
The downhill race marks the opening event of the women's Olympic alpine programme. However, training scheduled for Thursday has been cancelled due to heavy snowfall in the area.
This development highlights the challenges faced by athletes preparing for the Olympics, where injuries can disrupt preparations at critical moments. Monsen's return offers hope for the Norwegian team as they gear up for the competition.
