BEIJING – Para alpine skier Frédérique Turgeon (Candiac, QC) will unfortunately be unable to compete at the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games due to an injury sustained during a crash in downhill training this week, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and Alpine Canada announced Friday.
Turgeon suffered a leg injury, with no ligament damage or broken bones, with an estimated three to four months recovery time. She has now returned home to Canada to recuperate. The three-time world championship medallist was set to participate in her second Paralympic Winter Games.
“This is the first time in my career that I’ve really been enjoying downhill, and I was going fast on a training run and just let things go,” said Turgeon. “I always said this year that when I was really going to push myself was at the Games – I nailed that and so I can’t regret what happened. What actually hurts me right now is to leave my team behind. I was really excited to cheer on my teammates in the finish, but you can still expect me to be cheering loud at home!”
“We are so gutted for Frédérique to not be able to compete at the Games,” said Josh Dueck, chef de mission, Beijing 2022 Canadian Paralympic Team. “Injury is an unfortunate part of sport, but it is particularly devastating when it happens right before the Paralympic Games. We wish Fred all the best for a speedy recovery and hope to see her back on the slopes soon – there is definitely more from her to come!”
Turgeon’s 10 teammates on Canada’s Para alpine skiing team will start competition at the Games on March 5 at 10 a.m. local (March 4 at 9 p.m. ET) with the downhill races.
