Austrian ski jumper Eva Pinkelnig took her first training jumps in almost twelve months on Thursday in Tschagguns. The 38-year-old from Vorarlberg returned to the hill in the Montafon valley almost exactly a year after her crash at the Summer Grand Prix in Predazzo. According to the Austrian Ski Federation (ÖSV), the session went well and her injured knee has so far shown no negative reaction.
A serious crash in Predazzo
Pinkelnig was badly hurt at the Summer Grand Prix in Predazzo on 18 September 2025. As Austrian outlet oe24 reports, she suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament, severe meniscus tears and cartilage damage in her left knee.
After rehabilitation, she spent the past few months getting her first flying time back in the wind tunnel. She then ran test descents on the outrun to get used to her equipment, the speed and the in-run again. On Thursday came the jumps themselves.
"A very special moment"
"Das war heute ein ganz besonderer Moment für mich" ("Today was a very special moment for me"), Pinkelnig said. She thanked everyone who had supported her and said that sitting at the top of the hill again after so long and actually pushing off had been emotional and simply wonderful.
She said there had also been some apprehension, but that her confidence had returned with every jump. Above all, she was pleased that her knee had coped with everything. "Jetzt geht es darum, Schritt für Schritt weiterzumachen und nichts zu überstürzen" ("Now it's about continuing step by step and not rushing anything"), she added. According to skispringen.com, she has not yet named a date for her return to competition, and further loading will stay controlled.
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Women's head coach Thomas Diethart, a former Four Hills Tournament winner, said Pinkelnig had worked extremely consistently in recent months and had earned this day. Diethart called the first jumps an important milestone, but said what mattered now was how her body, and especially the knee, responded to the load. If things kept going this well, the team could take the next steps. Diethart added that the day had made them very confident.
According to ORF, Pinkelnig's main goal is still a comeback at the World Cup season opener in Lillehammer (NOR) this November.
According to skispringen.com, there is other news about Meghann Wadsak. The 19-year-old Austrian is taking a break from competition until further notice and will not compete in the coming season so she can focus on her health. She has left the door open to a later return. ÖSV sports director Florian Liegl said the health of the federation's athletes was its highest priority and that it would support Wadsak as well as it could.
