French alpine skier Alexis Pinturault is currently facing uncertainty about the future of his career following a recent injury that has prompted him to consider retirement. The three-time Olympic medalist revealed that he will be on crutches for the next six weeks as he copes with the aftermath of a ski accident he endured last Friday, describing this period as “the biggest hell.”
At 33 years old, Pinturault, who excels in giant slalom, suffered a crash during a super-G race in Kitzbuehel, Austria, leading to his airlift from the competition site. He sustained a broken internal tibial plateau in his right knee; fortunately, this injury does not require surgical intervention, and he is expected to begin rehabilitation around mid-March.
Pinturault’s return to racing in Beaver Creek, Colorado, in December marked only his eighth competition since taking an extended break of 11 months. This previous hiatus was due to injuries involving his left knee, where he ruptured his cruciate ligaments and internal meniscus following a super-G crash at Wengen.
In light of his injury challenges, thoughts of retirement have increasingly entered Pinturault’s mind. He shared his reflections during a video call with reporters, stating, “Oh, yes, I thought about it strongly. Last year I was already thinking about it after my injury, now probably even more so. Even as we speak my choice is not totally clear. I need more time to think about it.”
The lengthy period on crutches during his previous injury has weighed heavily on him, and the recent accident has been a significant emotional setback. “You have to go through it to understand it. The hardest part is that the first period of rehabilitation was already very long. Then you start feeling a bit better for a couple of months, you get the green light. To then get injured again is extremely difficult to accept,” he explained.
Pinturault is expected to receive further information next week that may determine if he needs surgery on his internal meniscus.
Throughout his career, Pinturault has achieved remarkable success, winning 34 World Cup races—more than half of which are in giant slalom—and clinching the overall championship in 2021. He also boasts an impressive collection of eight medals from world championships, including three golds.
Should he return to the slopes, Pinturault mentioned that it is “highly probable” he will not participate in downhill events and may also eliminate super-G from his schedule to focus on giant slalom in preparation for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy.
“Clearly I will have to make choices. There are a lot of questions to answer,” he noted. “It’s probable that I’ll concentrate only on giant (slalom). If I do come back, it won’t be for many seasons. So I’ll have to focus on the (discipline) where I had the most podiums.”
Regardless of his decision, Pinturault does not envision competing at the age of 40 like some other athletes, such as Lindsey Vonn. He reflected, “I’m young compared to some, and I’m old compared to others. I’m not sure I’ll be among the athletes who can keep going until 40. It’s not really my age that’s a factor, it’s whether I want to carry on, which means going through this all over again. I’m going to spend another 45 days on crutches, which is the biggest hell.”
