Photo: imago / GEPA
Eetu Nousiainen was seriously injured when he fell during the qualification at the start of the ski flying weekend in Planica. After a preliminary examination, there is an initial diagnosis for the Finnish ski jumper.
It was one of the shocking moments right at the start of the last ski jumping World Cup weekend in Planica: Eetu Nousiainen from Finland fell badly in the qualification for the first of two individual ski flying events. There had already been two serious crashes in training and qualification.
The Finn’s jump of 180 meters was actually over long ago when he lost control of his skis and fell heavily on the run-out. The 26-year-old complained of knee pain and was taken away by paramedics.
» Event overview: Schedule & information about the World Cup ski flying in Planica
After an initial preliminary examination in the Jesenice hospital, the Finnish association has now published an initial diagnosis: According to this, the 26-year-old has torn the anterior cruciate ligament and the meniscus. “The nature of the injury and possible further measures will only be clarified after the investigations in Finland,” the association said.
Nousiainen previously contacted his fans via social media and at least cautiously gave the all-clear: “I’ll be fine again,” the Finnish ski jumper initially said. A subsequent MRI and X-ray examination revealed a more serious injury.
“The season could have ended differently, but I think a season like this requires an ending like this,” Nousiainen told YLE television. He finished the 2023/2024 World Cup season outside the top 50 – two competitions before the end of the season, the Finn is in 53rd place in the overall World Cup.
Also interesting: For a long time it looked as if Markus Eisenbichler would return to the World Cup team for the season finale after strong performances in the Continental Cup. That’s why the veteran is now missing in Planica…