After a promising start: Germany's unlucky skier Dreßen injured again

Created: 12/16/2022, 5:00 p.m

By: Marius Epp

Thomas Dreßen got it again: Germany's ski star has to sit out for weeks.

© IMAGO/Daniel Goetzhaber

Thomas Dreßen is the best German downhill skier, but his career has been dogged by bad luck with injuries.

Then came the next setback.

Gröden - The season started well for Thomas Dreßen: After 32 months of suffering, he made a remarkable comeback in Lake Louise.

A few weeks later, the alpine skiing year 2022 ended prematurely for him again.

Alpine skiing: Thomas Dreßen again in bad luck with injuries – but his knees and hips are safe

The former Kitzbühel winner sustained a muscle injury in his right thigh during the downhill classic in Val Gardena and will be out of the other races in South Tyrol.

This was announced by the German Ski Association (DSV) on Thursday evening.

"The good thing is that knees and hips are intact," said Dreßen, who clearly missed out on the points in 45th place: "Now I'll recover from the injury in peace with the aim of being fit again at the start in January." The 29-year-old will now at least miss the Super-G on Friday and the second descent on Saturday (11.45 a.m.) in Val Gardena.

He is also missing in Bormio (December 28/29).

Video: This is what you need to know about the 2022/23 Alpine Ski World Cup

Will Thomas Dreßen only drive downhill in the future?

Dreßen's coach Christian Schwaiger emphasized: "We are aware that time management is extremely important for Tom.

If we want to prolong his career as much as possible, we have to be very sensible with his burden.”

In plain language: If Schwaiger has his way, Dreßen's starts in the Super-G should be reconsidered in the future in order to limit the strain on his knees.

That means that the Super-G is "ridden if possible", but that the 29-year-old "maybe" no longer competes in this discipline.

"Focusing fully on the descent gives him more recovery time," said Schwaiger.

also read

Ski legend Maria Höfl-Riesch on a dream vacation for six weeks

READ

German biathlon dream couple builds wooden house in Ruhpolding and shows the first pictures: "It's up"

READ

Biathlon World Cup 2022/2023: dates, schedule and disciplines

READ

Bartels will comment live on ski jumping for ARD on Saturday, but is 5,000 kilometers away at 27 degrees

READ

"My star, my heart, my soul": Husband writes emotional message to Olympic champion Herrmann-Wick

READ

Fancy a journey of discovery?

My space

Alpine skiing in Val Gardena: Dreßen injured, Ferstl convinced

That could change again: "I hope that the whole system will gradually get used to the load again, but now we have to act sensibly and smartly," says Schwaiger.

Things went much better in Gröden for another Schwaiger protégé: Josef Ferstl tamed the unruly Ciaslat meadow and achieved a strong sixth place.