French skier Cyprien Sarrazin has undergone surgery after being airlifted to intensive care with a head injury following a serious crash on the slopes in Bormio, Italy.
The 2022 Olympian was diagnosed with a subdural hematoma – bleeding near the brain – after crashing on the slope due to be raced on at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
On Saturday, the French Ski Federation confirmed the alpine speed star’s operation on his brain was successful.
Sazzarin, who won the downhill in Bormio last year, went quickest in the first training session on Thursday.
The Frenchman was looking to repeat the feat on the final practice on Friday, but during his run hit a bump and lost control.
The 30-year-old was launched into the air before landing harshly on his back and sliding down the slope before being caught by the safety netting.
Cyprien Sarrazin has undergone a successful operation following a ski crash in Bormio, Italy
The Frenchman hit a bump in a practice session that sent him flying into the air and onto his back
Sazzarin had to be airlifted to hospital and checked into intensive care before his surgery
Emergency services on site quickly attended to Sazzarin before a helicopter took him to hospital where he was treated.
In a statement, the FFS wrote: ‘Cyprien Sarrazin underwent surgery last night to decompress an intra-cranial haematoma.
‘The operation went well, but he remains under anaesthetic for the time being. We will give you more information later today.’
Sazzarin was not the only skier to be airlifted from the course, with Italy’s Pietro Zazzi also taken to a hospital following an incident.
The two crashes have caused concern among the skiing community ahead of the Stelvio slope’s usage at the Winter Olympics in just over a year’s time.
Sarrazin’s teammate Nils Allegre has taken aim at the organisers for the treacherous nature of the course.
‘My opinion here is clear, it’s that they don’t know how to prepare a course,’ he said. ‘It’s been 40 years that they have been preparing courses, but they don’t know how to do anything, apart from dangerous things.
‘Maybe it’s not something everyone agrees with but it’s my opinion and it’s deep-seated.
‘It’s not right, I don’t know what they’re trying to prove, but a year ahead of organizing the Olympics, having a course like this – they don’t deserve to have the Olympic Games here.’
