Pinkelnig nears comeback after serious ski jumping injury

Vorarlberg ski jumper Eva Pinkelnig is close to returning to competition about 10 months after suffering a serious fall in Predazzo, ORF Vorarlberg reports. The 38-year-old has trained intensively and is looking ahead to the World Cup, the Four Hills Tournament and a bid to clear 200 metres.

Pinkelnig’s Olympic dream ended when she injured her knee in the fall. Since then, she has completed extensive training in the gym, on the track and on her home mountain, the Karren.

She described the road back as long and difficult, but said her rehabilitation had gone almost as well as possible. “I can now really say, after 10 months: I have as much strength as I have had in a long time,” Pinkelnig told ORF Vorarlberg. She said she also felt freer and lighter and was looking forward to what comes next.

A milestone was returning to skis this winter, although her Rhea team was not enthusiastic because of the risk of injury.

Pinkelnig has also completed her first flights in a wind tunnel, which she described as a taste of returning to the jumping hill. “It is simply pure enjoyment to finally be back in the air,” she said. Those moments, she added, made up for the difficult training sessions and days.

Her goals include a World Cup comeback, competing in the Four Hills Tournament and clearing the 200-metre mark. Looking further ahead, she said reaching that distance in Planica would be “incredible”.