Freestyle Skiing - FIS Freestyle World Championships - Women's Freeski Big Air - St Moritz, Switzerland - March 29, 2025 Italy's Flora Tabanelli in action REUTERS/Claudia Greco
PARIS (Reuters) -Freestyle skier Flora Tabanelli's preparations for the 2026 Winter Olympics on home snow took a hit when the teenage world champion suffered a suspected knee injury training in Austria, the Italian Winter Sports Federation said on Wednesday.
Tabanelli, 17, fell heavily while landing a jump during a slopestyle training session in Stubai, where the national World Cup team is holding a camp, FISI said in a statement.
The world and World Cup big air championsustained what is feared to be a sprained right knee.
She will undergo medical tests in the coming hours at the “La Madonnina” clinic in Milan.
The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics in Februarywill mark Italy’s first home Games since Turin 2006.
Tabanelli, one of the country’s brightest freestyle prospects, was expected to be among the medal contenders.
(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Ken Ferris)
