Slovenian World Cup skier Neja Dvornik is facing a serious setback after suffering a fracture of two bones in her lower leg in warm-up runs before Sunday’s Slalom World Cup in Gurgl, Austria. Unfortunately, the injury ends the season for the 24-year-old ski racer—and with it any hopes of an Olympic start.
- Related: Mikaela Shiffrin Claims 102nd Career Victory and 9th Reindeer at World Cup in Levi, Finland
The Slovenian Ski Association (Smučarska Zveza Slovenije) confirmed on Monday, November 24, that Neja Dvornik is out for the season after suffering a serious injury during warm-up for the World Cup race in Gurgl, Austria. According to the federation, Dvornik “fell and was injured during warm-up,” with hospital examinations revealing “a fracture of the right tibia and of the bone above the right ankle.” The association added that she will require surgery before returning home to begin “a difficult rehabilitation,” concluding its statement with a message of support: “Neja, we are with you — wishing you a speedy recovery and lots of strength.
“I am very grateful for all the support and people that stand by my side. Taking day by day now, putting the pieces back together, but I promise I’ll be back even stronger!”
— Neja Dvornik
The fracture is a big setback for the Slovenian Ski Team ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy. Dvornik had shown encouraging form heading into this season. She scored her first points of the 2025–26 World Cup in October at the season opener in Sölden, Austria, where she finished in 26th place and finished a strong seventh at the slalom in Levi, Finland. Last season, she recorded her career-best giant slalom result, placing sixth in Sun Valley, Idaho, as well as a fourth place in Saalbach, Austria, marking major breakthroughs for the rising star.
Her absence in the Olympic season represents a significant loss for Slovenia’s women’s technical squad. All hope for Slovenian representation at the Olympics will rest on the shoulders of her teammate Ana Bucik.
Dvornik’s injury comes just days after Switzerland’s Lara Gut-Behrami injured herself in training at Copper Mountain, Colorado, and USA’s Katie Hensien fractured her tibia in training in Levi, Finland. It’s an acute reminder of the immense stress and constant danger ski racers are faced with nearly every day.
