The remarkable Paralympic comeback of Australian alpine skiing great Michael Milton has been thrown into doubt after the 52-year-old fractured his leg in a training accident ahead of the Milan-Cortina Games.
Injury Details and Impact
Milton, Australia's most decorated Winter Paralympian, confirmed on Friday that he sustained a small fracture in the neck of his femur following a crash in the United States. The incident occurred when his ski slid out from under him after hitting a slick patch of snow at the end of a training run in Colorado.
The Canberra local landed heavily on the stump of his left leg, which he lost to bone cancer as a nine-year-old. Scans revealed the fracture, with surgery being considered as a possible treatment option.
Optimism Amid Setback
Despite the setback, Milton remains optimistic. He noted that he suffered a similar fracture to the same femur in a crash twelve months ago and did not require surgery at that time. The five-time Paralympian has stayed in the US ahead of the Games, which commence on March 6.
"I'm gutted but, after more than 20 years as a ski racer, I know the risks," Milton wrote in a blog post. "The support and help from Paralympics Australia has been fantastic. I'm in touch with the team doctor and various specialists in the US and Australia. For the moment, I rest, wait and hope but, at this stage, I haven't ruled anything out."
Ambitious Qualification Goals
Milton was on track to achieve his ambitious goal of qualifying in all five alpine disciplines for the Paralympics:
- Slalom
- Giant slalom
- Super-G
- Downhill
- Combined (downhill and slalom)
Despite not competing at the Paralympics since 2006, he made a stunning return at the Para Alpine Skiing World Cup stop in Colorado in January, winning four of his five races across the slalom, giant slalom, and Super G disciplines, and finishing no worse than second in any event.
Legacy and Team Support
First competing at the Paralympics in 1988, Milton boasts an impressive record of eleven skiing medals, including six gold. The Australian Paralympic alpine skiing team is scheduled to be announced on February 27.
Team chef de mission Ben Troy expressed hope for Milton's inclusion, stating, "Michael has done incredibly well just to put himself in contention to compete at Milano Cortina. He's raced across two continents and shown incredible determination to become eligible for five different Para alpine skiing events. This mishap is unfortunate, but we'll be giving Michael all the support and time he needs. We hope for the best."
