Surgery and a long break for Danioth: ski ace from the dream vacation to the hospital bed

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Joy and sadness are often close together. Hardly any other skier knows this better than Aline Danioth (25). In mid-February she finished sixth in the World Championship slalom and a few weeks later she tore her cruciate ligament for the fourth time.

Still, she doesn’t think about giving up. “I’ve always shown that I can reach the top quickly. That gives me courage that it will also work this time,” says Danioth.

Adventures with the van

Now she reports from the hospital bed with the words “Everything is fixed and ready to heal”. As announced, her cruciate ligament has been reconstructed with a piece of her patellar tendon. A long rehabilitation begins. If all goes according to plan, she should be back on skis in seven months and back racing in nine to 10 months. A comeback next winter is quite unlikely, because “I’m not risking anything for one or two races”.

Danioth regained strength for the long haul back in May on a three-week road trip across the US. With her friend Katia Riabouckina Österlund, she has hiked through national parks, attended a hockey game and enjoyed the Las Vegas nightlife.

In their van, the two “slept in the most beautiful and scary places” and “appreciated showers and clean water more than ever before”. They laughed and cried together and “most important to me, I lived in the moment, not thinking about the worries of the future,” says Danioth.

“In California, even the workouts are more fun”

While her boyfriend traveled home after three weeks, Danioth added a few more days in San Diego. There she pursued another passion: surfing. Despite the holidays and a torn cruciate ligament, training was not forgotten in the USA either. Or as Danioth says, “In California, even workouts are more fun.”

In summary, she says, “This trip was just what I needed! She gave me the energy I need for the coming months.” Even though it is not easy after these carefree weeks, to go into surgery with a completely free and good feeling. But I know that this is an inevitable step for my health and my career.”

With everything Danioth has been through, one can only hope that this will be the last step for her. (bir)

Source : Blick