Canada’s top alpine racer will miss this year’s World Ski Championships after suffering an injury on a training run.
During his second downhill training session at the championship track in Saalbach, Austria on Thursday, North Vancouver’s Cameron Alexander landed awkwardly coming over a roller on the upper part of the course.
But Alexander regained his balance and skied to the bottom of the hill.
Experiencing pain in his knee, Alexander was examined by the team doctor and medical staff at the local hospital, according to Alpine Canada.
“Following the examination, it has been determined that Alexander will not be competing at these world championships, and that he will be returning to Canada for further evaluation by team medical specialists to determine the next course of action,” Alpine Canada said in a statement.
In a post to Instagram on Friday, Alexander said he suffered a significant injury to his right knee, and was heading home to figure out next steps and start his road to recovery.
“To say I’m gutted would be an understatement,” he wrote. “But don’t worry about me. The things I have learned through my toughest times are what have led to my greatest successes so far. I don’t plan on this being any different.”
Alexander signed off by wishing luck to the rest of Team Canada.
Prior to his injury, the racer had been on a hot streak, scoring two bronze finishes on the World Cup stage this season.
Alexander was poised to do well in the upcoming World Championships, ranked sixth in the world in downhill and seventh in super-G. Overall, he’s ranked 10th in the world, and the top Canadian skier in the standings.
