Austrian alpine skier Katharina Liensberger, a prominent rival to American star Mikaela Shiffrin in slalom events, has suffered severe knee injuries during a training session, effectively ruling her out for the remainder of the season and the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy.
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) announced that the 28-year-old sustained a tibial plateau fracture, a torn meniscus, and damage to the medial collateral ligament in her right knee. The incident occurred while training for giant slalom in St. Michael, Austria, in preparation for World Cup races in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia.
Liensberger underwent surgery on Friday, with FIS extending wishes for a full recovery. The injuries come as a major blow, eliminating one of Shiffrin’s key competitors in slalom at the Milan-Cortina Games, set for February 2026.
This is the latest in a series of training accidents affecting top female skiers. Several Swiss Olympic champions, including Michelle Gisin, Lara Gut-Behrami, and Corinne Suter, have also recently sustained injuries.
Liensberger, who claimed slalom silver and team gold at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, as well as world titles in slalom and parallel events in 2021 at Cortina d’Ampezzo, had shown strong form recently, finishing fourth in a World Cup slalom in Semmering last weekend.
Finland and Sweden Announce NHL-Heavy Rosters for 2026 Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey
January 3, 2026
Defending Olympic champions Finland and perennial contenders Sweden have revealed their men’s ice hockey rosters for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Games, featuring predominantly NHL talent as professional players return to Olympic competition.
Finland, gold medalists in Beijing 2022, selected 24 NHL players, retaining most of their lineup from last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off, including all three goaltenders: Kevin Lankinen, Juuse Saros, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Notable absences include captain Aleksander Barkov, sidelined by knee surgery, with Montreal’s Oliver Kapanen stepping in. The roster is bolstered by stars from Dallas (four players, including Miro Heiskanen and Mikko Rantanen) and Florida (three players).
Sweden named a goaltending trio from the NHL: Jesper Wallstedt and Filip Gustavsson (Minnesota Wild) and Jacob Markstrom (New Jersey Devils). Coach Sam Hallam introduced changes from the 4 Nations team, adding veterans like Gabriel Landeskog—returning after a long injury layoff—and newcomers such as Philip Broberg and Alex Wennberg. Victor Hedman, previously snubbed, is included despite recent surgery, with expectations of his return before the Games.
Both nations are poised as strong medal contenders in a tournament marking the NHL’s first Olympic participation since 2014. The men’s ice hockey event begins February 11, 2026.
