CALGARY—Canadian ski jumping ace, Alex Loutitt, suffered a season-ending knee injury during a Summer Grand Prix competition on the 2026 Olympic jumps in Val di Fiemme, Italy on Friday.
The Olympic medallist and World Champion was treated by medical officials in local hospital before returning to Innsbruck, Austria where she will undergo knee surgery this week. The 21-year-old is expected to have a one-year rehabilitation period from her surgery before she will be cleared to return to competitive jumping.
“I am heartbroken that this injury will prevent me from representing Canada at the upcoming Olympic Winter Games. I feel like I’m letting down my family, friends, and teammates as well as the incredible sponsors that have embraced my journey. This is the toughest part for me to accept,” said Loutitt, who was a summer season-best fourth in Thursday’s Grand Prix competition. “I know that I am still young, and I am grateful for everything I’ve already achieved in ski jumping. This is a setback in my journey, but it’s not the end. I will put in as much hard work into my recovery as my Olympic preparation and come back stronger for the future.”
Loutitt’s post-operative recovery will be supported by the world-renowned Red Bull Athlete Performance Centre, ensuring she has access to elite-level care while living in Europe.
The first Canadian ski jumper to win the World Championships at both the senior and junior levels, Loutitt also has 11 individual World Cup podiums including two victories.
“Alex is an extremely valuable member of our national program and will have Ski Jumping Canada’s full support throughout this period of adversity and her recovery process,” said Todd Stretch, high-performance director, Ski Jumping Canada. “Alex is a determined athlete, who is driven to succeed, and I have no doubt she will make a full return to competition. Her health is our number one priority at this time, and we will therefore ensure she takes the necessary time to fully rehabilitate her injury. We also look forward to having Alex around the daily training environment where we know she will continue to lend her experience to the national program while supporting her teammates on the path to the 2026 Games.”
The most accomplished ski jumping athlete to take flight in Canadian colours, Loutitt will also use her time on the sidelines to pursue her coaching certifications in an effort to mentor the next generation of ski jumpers while continuing to chase her competitive goal of soaring towards the 2030 Olympic Winter Games.
Team Canada will now shift its focus to the next stop on the Summer Grand Prix in Hinzenbach, Austria, October 18-19.
Ski Jumping Canada is the governing federation for ski jumping in Canada. It is responsible for the governance of all ski jumping competitions in Canada and for the operation of the national team. For more information, please visit skijumpingcanada.com.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Chris Dornan
Ski Jumping Canada
Tel: 403-620-8731
Email: hpprchris@shaw.ca