German Stefan Luitz Out With ACL Injury

Germany’s Stefan Luitz tore the ACL in his left knee during the giant slalom in Alta Badia. Wolfgang Maier, director of the German Alpine Team, explains that Luitz didn’t crash, but had to stop his run because of an acute pain in his knee. After this incident, he was brought to Innsbruck for an MRI, where the rupture of the ligament was confirmed. It’s still unclear where and when he will undergo surgery.

Third in the giant slalom in Beaver Creek and second in Val d’Isère, the skier from Allgäu had a fantastic start of the season, skiing at his best level. Before today’s race, Luitz was ranked second of the giant slalom season standings.

As with his teammate Felix Neureuther, Luitz won’t be able to participate in the Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang in February 2018.

Stefan Luitz  (born 26 March 1992) is a World Cup alpine ski racer from Germany. He primarily competes in giant slalom, but on 24 January 2016 in Kitzbühel, for the first time in his career, he completed both runs in slalom and finished 18th. Previously, he had once qualified to second run in slalom, on 18 December 2012 in Madonna di Campiglio, but did not finish the second run.

Luitz made his World Cup debut in Adelboden in 2011, and attained his first World Cup podium in December 2012, a second place in giant slalom at Val d'Isère, France.