Australian freestyle skier Laura Peel hurts knee in Winter Olympics training camp

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Laura Peel of Australia jumps during the FIS freestyle world cup aerials in Lac-Beauport, Quebec, Canada, Wednesday, January 7, 2026. (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press via AP)

Winner Laura Peel of Australia, center, celebrates her victory with second place Winter Vinecki of the USA, left, and third place Xu Mengtao of China during the FIS freestyle world cup aerials in Lac-Beauport, Que., on Wednesday Jan. 7, 2026. (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press via AP) — Laura Peel of Australia jumps during the FIS freestyle world cup aerials in Lac-Beauport, Quebec, Canada, Wednesday, January 7, 2026. (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press via AP)

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3:09 AM on Tuesday, February 3

The Associated Press

AIROLO, Switzerland (AP) — Australian freestyle skier Laura Peel hurt her knee in a training camp ahead of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, raising doubts about her participation in a fourth Games.

The 36-year-old Peel is a two-time world champion and one of the favorites to win the women's aerials.

She sustained the injury in Switzerland on Monday, the Australian team said in a statement, and had a scan at a sports specialist clinic.

“She has returned to the training camp in Airolo, Switzerland where she’ll be treated by the team physio to determine next steps,” the team said Tuesday.

The women’s aerials qualification starts on Feb. 17.

Peel has never won an Olympic medal. She was one of the favorites in aerials in Beijing in 2022 but finished in fifth place, and was also at Pyeongchang in 2018 and Sochi in 2014.

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AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics