Eva Twardokens Injures Knee, Will Miss Olympics

U.S. skier Eva Twardokens suffered a severe injury to her right knee in a spill during the opening women’s slalom race of the World Cup ski season Thursday. Doctors said the injury will sideline her for about six months.

Twardokens was taken by sled to the finish line, then rushed to a local hospital where doctors determined she tore two ligaments and the cartilage of her right knee.

The 22-year-old from Reno, will miss the entire 1987-88 World Cup season and the Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, Canada, in February.

Twardokens, who led the U.S. women’s team in the absence of injured veteran Tamara McKinney, fell at mid-course during the first heat.

She hit a gate with her pole, lost her balance and twisted her knee in a vain attempt to keep her skis going.