Even though she is not yet at the peak of her abilities, world champion Laurence St-Germain is very happy that she was able to return to competition last Sunday in Slovakia.
Wearing a boot specifically designed to provide more space for her injured ankle, the skier finished 22nd in the Jasna slalom. “I still feel a little pain, but in a racing situation with adrenaline and stress, I don't feel any pain,” she said. There will continue to be progress in the gym. It feels good to get back to competition.”
St-Germain had to postpone his return. “It took a little longer, but there was nothing worrying. It's an injury [déchirure du ligament deltoïdien] Which is rare in alpine skiing and I had no expectations. I wanted to make sure I didn't feel any pain when I came back and I didn't want to come back too quickly.
Back in Montreal, where she will continue her studies at HEC before returning to Europe for the next leg of the World Cup, Germain will take a short break. “After a short break, I will resume training in the gym and leave for a training block in Europe on January 31,” she stressed. The preparation for snow was not optimal for my return. I only managed two runs.”
St-Germain was present at the Giant Slalom World Cup in Tremblant in early December and was injured just days after arriving in Italy on December 11th.
Injury at the wrong time
If no athlete wants to suffer an injury, in this case the moment is more difficult to accept. “It is better that it happens this year because there is no World Cup or Olympics, but to get injured just before a block of five races in four weeks is not ideal,” St-Germain stressed. This will cost me dearly in the rankings.”
St-Germain missed four races. “The top 25 qualify for the season finale and I try not to think about that,” she admitted. My goal at the start of the season was to finish in the top 7 overall and that is no longer achievable. My goals don’t change with every race. I want to get into the top 10 and get on the podium.”
With two races on the calendar before the final, which takes place March 16-24 in Saalbach, Austria, St-Germain sits in 28th place, according to the latest International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) rankings.
The next World Championships will take place on February 11th in Soldeu, with a stop in Are, Sweden, planned for March 10th.
Nervous like at the beginning of the season
Before racing in Slovakia, St-Germain contested his last race on November 26th in Killington, Vermont. “I wasn't afraid of getting injured again, but I felt the same nervousness as I did at the beginning of the season,” she explained. When I was standing on the sidelines not doing any time trials, I didn't know where I was. On my first run I was more nervous than usual.”