Australian Paralympic skiing great Michael Milton has suffered a serious injury after crashing while free skiing at Winter Park, Colorado, casting uncertainty over his plans for the upcoming Paralympic Games, which begin on 6 March.
Michael was skiing to the bottom of the hill following a training run when he hit a slick patch of snow, causing his ski to slide out from beneath him. He landed heavily on the stump of his left leg, resulting in a broken femur. Scans have since revealed a small fracture in the neck of the bone.
The incident echoes a crash almost 12 months ago when Michael fractured the same femur while preparing to ski the Haute Route, a famous high-alpine ski touring route through the Alps. That earlier injury occurred at a lower point in the bone, and at the time surgery was not recommended.
Michael’s left leg was amputated above the knee when he was nine years old after he was diagnosed with osteogenic carcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer.
Medical teams in the US and Australia are now carefully assessing whether surgery is appropriate for this latest fracture. Michael is consulting widely before making any decisions.
“I’m gutted but, after more than 20 years as a ski racer, I know the risks,” Michael said. The support and help from Paralympics Australia has been fantastic. I’m in touch with the team doctor and various specialists in the US and Australia.
For the moment, I rest, wait and hope but, at this stage, I haven’t rules anything out.
The timing of the injury places a question mark over Michael’s plans to race at the Paralympic Games. A decision on surgery, recovery timelines and rehabilitation will be critical in determining whether he can safely return to competition in time.
Michael Milton is one of Australia’s most decorated Paralympians, and an official Australian Sports Hall of Fame legend. In October he announced his comeback to ski racing after retiring 20 years ago. Racing in Europe and the US over recent months, the 52 year old qualified to race in all five alpine events at what would be his seventh Paralympic Games.
For now, Michael remains in the United States.