The women’s skiathlon at the World Ski Championships was marked not only by the end of a long streak of victories for the Norwegian team in this discipline, but also by dangerous pandemics.

American Rosie Brennan, a candidate for prizes, landed in an unpleasant situation. At high speed, the athlete fell so that the ski soared into the sky.

And I had to get to the finish line with bloody hands.

Medal contender

A women’s skiathlon took place at the World Ski Championships in Planica, Slovenia. Before the start of the race, the extended list of medal contenders included experienced American skier Rosie Brennan. Previously, the athlete did not win a world championship medal, but this year she showed a number of good results in distance races at the World Cup.

The American came to the start of the skiathlon under the fifth number. From the first meters of the distance, Rosie kept in the group of leaders, demonstrating good preparation for the competition. Being in the head of the peloton helped the American avoid a massive fall on the first lap. At around 2.3 km, Brennan showed the third result.

Unfortunately, falls are the norm for this World Cup. Almost all skiers complain about the terrible conditions in Planica. So Brennan fell already on the second lap, even rich experience did not help. Rosie lost her speed on a steep downhill and went off the track.

The fall of an American skier in the skiathlon at the World Championships

“It is so painful”

From a hard fall, one ski of the athlete soared up several meters. Rosie quickly got up, but she couldn’t put the ski on again, the mount broke. The athlete had to overcome several tens of meters to the coach to get a new ski. Fortunately, the specialist had the necessary equipment.

— I tried to find a trainer with skis to continue the race. He was on the other side of the track, so for a while I moved on one ski. The trainer had a ski, which, fortunately, turned out to be mine. I don’t even know if it was a racing or training ski, Brennan described the situation after the fall.

After that, the athlete continued her performance, but time was lost. The American rolled back into her fourth decade and one could forget about the victory. Good preparation helped Rosie improve her position, but she failed to rise above 19th place.

At the finish line, the athlete discovered another unpleasant consequence of the fall. Brennan cut her hands to the point of blood as she entered the track without gloves due to warm weather. But it’s good that we managed to avoid serious injuries.

“You have to risk a broken heart to find a whole, and the risk is worth it. But sometimes it hurts so much, and today was one of those days. Fortunately, only my heart and mount are broken, so I will be back in the fight again,” Rosie wrote on social networks.

Ahead of Brennan will definitely have a few more chances at the competitions in Planica to win the first world championship medal by the age of 34.

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“Match TV” shows the world championship in skiing (February 21 – March 5). Watch live broadcasts of ski competitions on the Match TV federal channel and the thematic channels of the holding, as well as on matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru websites.