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Image:
Keystone
Dramatic scenes unfold at the women’s speed start in Val d’Isère. Austrian Nicole Schmidhofer experienced a fall from horror that gave her a touch of evil. In 2001, Silvano Beltrametti fell in practically the same place. The 31-year-old was apparently luckier than the Swiss at the time.
After jumping out, Schmidhofer lost control and threw himself into the safety net at nearly 100 kilometers per hour. The speed specialist cut the net with her skis and disappeared nowhere. Anxious moments for everyone involved. Fortunately, after a long period of suffering, the first little thumbs up came. The victim was taken away on a rescue sled after 20 minutes.
According to ÖSV press officer Manuela Riegler Schmidhofer is at least conscious, he may have sustained injuries to the mouth and nose area. The Styrian suffered the consequences of a crown disease for a long time and only recently went back to skiing. She complained of “a headache almost like a concussion”.
After the race resumed, other pilots, including the Swiss Joana Hählen, flew towards the net at the same point. At least the safety net stayed with them. So the race had to be interrupted five times (!). Corinne Suter won this memorable descent.
The memories come back
Silvano Beltrametti’s horrific accident also happened in Val d’Isère on December 8, 2001. The downhill hopeful Swiss got it at almost the same point (judging from the images, just one corner earlier) as Schmidhofer this year.
The then 22-year-old from Graubünden also disappeared behind safety nets. The bad result of the accident: Beltrametti ended up paraplegic in a wheelchair.
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