Leveraged and injured: bitter end to the season for Croatian slalom star

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It happened during the last slalom of the winter. Leona Popovic (26) was eliminated in the second run after less than ten seconds of driving. The Croat falls and immediately gets back up. As a result, she grabs her left knee and sinks back into the snow. Their cries of pain ripple through their bones and the race is paused for a few minutes.

Even then, it seems reasonable to assume that Popovic could have been seriously injured even if she got back up. A few days after the race at the World Cup Final in Saalbach (Austria), magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the suspicion. As the Croatian Ski Association reports, the technical specialist suffered a partial tear of the anterior cruciate ligament, a strain of the collateral ligament and a bone bruise in her left knee. “After further examinations and in collaboration with the medical team, a decision will be made whether the injury can be treated conservatively or whether surgery is required,” the statement continued.

A bitter end to the season for Popovic, which contrasts with the start. In mid-November she missed her first World Cup victory in Levi (Fi) by just 18 hundredths. Just like last year in the final in Soldeu (And), she came second in the slalom. These are her only podium finishes in 82 World Cup races so far.

Scary moment in January

The Croat not only caused a shock moment in Saalbach this winter. Popovic suffered a spectacular fall in Kranjska Gora (Slo) at the beginning of January. In the final slalom gate she stumbled and somersaulted across the finish line. It also twisted her knee, but she didn’t hurt herself.

Instead, despite an unplanned finish in the first run, she set the second fastest time – because she passed all the gates correctly. However, she did not take home the podium place. She lost strength during the decision and finished eleventh. (beer)

Source : Blick