Ski-Alpin: Fanchini recedes with tears after fibula fracture

Italian ski racer Elena Fanchini has announced the end of her career three days after suffering a broken fibula during training. The 33-year-old, who had only recently returned to the ski slope after several months of tumour treatment, explained in a video in tears that the consequences of the fall were more serious than expected.

“It was a heavy blow because I really believed in my comeback,” said the 2005 World Cup silver medallist in the downhill. Fanchini had also suffered a broken finger and a knee bruise in the accident at Copper Mountain.

The oldest of the three Fanchini siblings celebrated two downhill World Cup victories in her career, winning Lake Louise in 2005 and Cortina d’Ampezzo ten years later. Elena Fanchini contested her last race in the World Cup on 17 December 2017 at the Super-G in Val d’Isere (39th).