Alexander Vogt withdraws from season after ACL tear

German alpine skier Alexander Vogt has prematurely ended the 2025/2026 season due to a serious knee injury. The injury occurred on Thursday, February 26, during slalom training on the Olympic Gudiberg slope in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. On his second run, Vogt fell and injured his left knee, unable to continue skiing under his own power. Immediate imaging tests, including an MRI performed at a clinic in Munich, confirmed the worst fears – a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). This diagnosis necessitates surgery and months of rehabilitation, ruling the 26-year-old athlete out of all remaining starts this season. The injury is particularly painful due to its timing – Vogt was scheduled to compete in the World Cup in Garmisch-Partenkirchen this weekend, in giant slalom and slalom. These were exceptionally important home races for him. Furthermore, the injury will deprive him of the chance to participate in the March World Championships in Oslo, which represent the peak of the season for any alpine skier. Vogt, a representative of the SC Partenkirchen club, was having a breakthrough season – in January, in Slovenia's Kranjska Gora, he stood on a World Cup podium for the first time in his career, taking third place in slalom. Before the injury, he was ranked 24th in the overall World Cup standings, while also being Germany's top slalom skier. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the most common and serious injuries in winter sports, especially in alpine skiing, where high speeds and sudden directional changes stress the knee joint. The standard recovery time to full fitness after such an injury and ligament reconstruction is six to nine months, which typically means missing an entire subsequent competition season. In skiing history, many decorated athletes, like Lindsey Vonn or Hermann Maier, have struggled with similar injuries that significantly impacted their careers. The athlete's own reaction, expressed through a statement provided by the German Ski Association (DSV), was full of disappointment. „This is really very bitter. I feel so well-prepared and was in such good form. It hurts especially that I have to receive such news just before our home World Cup in Garmisch,” said Vogt. He also assured that he would do everything to return to the slopes as soon as possible. The DSV, in turn, declared full support for the athlete in the upcoming, difficult process of treatment and rehabilitation. Vogt's injury also has a tactical dimension for the German national team. As the leading slalom skier, Vogt was a key athlete in team events and an important points scorer in the Nations Cup competition. His absence will be felt in the final phase of the season. German media highlighted the irony of fate – the injury in Garmisch, a place that should have been an arena of success for him, became the place where his season ended. In the coming days, details regarding the surgery date and rehabilitation plan are expected.