Milan – French skier Cyprien Sarrazin is reportedly awake and in stable condition following surgery for a head injury he sustained during a training session for the World Cup downhill event. The incident occurred on Friday, and Sarrazin was one of two skiers who required airlifting to a medical facility. The accident took place on a slope designated for the upcoming Milan-Cortina Olympics in 2026.

After suffering a bleed near the brain, Sarrazin underwent an operation to address his injury. Initially, he remained under anesthesia on Saturday morning but was later successfully brought back to consciousness. According to a statement from the French ski federation, attributed to team physician Stéphane Bulle, Sarrazin’s condition was stable and he was awake and alert.

Prior to the accident, Sarrazin had shown promising performance, leading the first training session. During the second run, he struck a bump, lost control, and was thrown into the air, eventually sliding down the slope until he was stopped by safety netting. The 30-year-old athlete was swiftly transported via helicopter to Sondalo Hospital, situated about 20 kilometers from Bormio.

Last season was one of Sarrazin’s most successful, capturing four titles in the World Cup circuit, including three in downhill and one in super-G. However, he has yet to secure a win this season. Another skier, Italy’s Pietro Zazzi, also faced a serious crash, leading to his airlift to the same hospital. Zazzi is scheduled to undergo surgery in Milan due to severe fractures in his right leg.

In competition news, the downhill event on Saturday concluded with a victory for Swiss skier Alexis Monney, marking his best finish in a World Cup race, having previously never placed better than eighth. A super-G event is on the agenda for Sunday, also scheduled for the challenging Stelvio course. Both men’s and women’s Alpine skiing events for the 2026 Olympics will occur in these mountainous regions, with Bormio hosting the men’s races while Cortina d’Ampezzo will host the women’s events—separated by a five-hour journey by car.