With 2018 lost to knee injury, Skier Gagnon focused on 2022 Beijing Games
When Marie-Michele Gagnon caught an edge and crashed at Lake Louise, any hope of competing at the 2018 Winter Olympics was lost.
But the 28-year-old alpine skier, who suffered a season-ending torn anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee and a dislocated left shoulder, is determined to be ready for the 2022 Games in Beijing.
“It’s disappointing to be hurt at any time and, for sure, in an Olympic year it’s even more disappointing,” Gagnon said Wednesday on a conference call. “I would say we are lucky that in our sport of alpine skiing it’s not just about the Olympics.
“It’s a sport that’s ingrained in the culture in Europe for many, many years. I would say all the World Cups are very important and overall World Cup titles. Those are dreams I still have. I have to give up my Olympic dream for this cycle but I have four more years after that and I want to make it to the next Olympics, so it’s not over as far as the Olympics go for me.”