No miracle for Tess Ledeux and a big blow for the Blues. Ten months after her severe fall and head trauma in Tignes, the silver medalist in Big Air at the Beijing Olympics is still not able to return to competition. The freestyler even announced this Thursday that she was drawing a line under the entire upcoming season and will therefore not participate in the big Olympic meeting in Milan next month…
“It’s a bit of a hard subject for me but I’m not going to beat around the bush,” she smiles. The deadlines are too short, the risks too great and we have decided to skip this season in order to preserve myself, take care of myself and complete the healing process. »
The Habs tried to put all the chances on their side by going to the United States, then to Toulouse to undergo treatment. But she had to face the facts before the end of year holidays.
❄️ #MilanoCortina2026 | ❌ Tess Ledeux, Olympic vice-champion of Big Air in 2022, announces her withdrawal for the Milan-Cortina Games!
🤕 The Frenchwoman has not sufficiently recovered from a concussion suffered last March. pic.twitter.com/35BucLl224
— francetvsport (@francetvsport) January 8, 2026
“I have made a lot of progress but I have two or three symptoms which persist,” continues the skier from La Plagne. This prevents me from projecting myself. Deep down, I knew it and it’s almost a relief because I know that now I have time to recover, regain confidence in myself and do things in the right order without rushing. »
When we met her at the beginning of October in Paris, Tess Ledeux was still suffering the after-effects of her accident in her daily life, notably headaches and loss of balance. “Today I can have almost normal days,” she breathes. I was able to resume my lessons and free skiing. Basically, I’m ready to do maybe 80% of everything I usually do, but I’m not ready to go back to shocks. »
“It’s going to be difficult to see friends…”
The month of February and the ring competitions at the Livigno site are going to be heartbreaking. “I’m going to endure a bit over the next few months, we’re not going to lie to each other,” slips the French champion. I made this decision, but that doesn’t mean I accept it 100%. I still have to mourn a little. It’s going to be difficult to see friends and be behind the TV. But time will take care of things. »
The three-time world champion will resume her treatment protocol at the end of January. Until then rest and fun holidays. “I really gave it my all over the last ten months and it really tired me,” she explains. So there, I rest a little, I enjoy my family and everything that I don’t normally have time to do during the season. It’s weird, I don’t feel like I belong, but it feels good to spend the holidays with family, to go and see friends here and there, and that’s kind of the program for the next few weeks…”
In all things bad is good. On the circuit for around ten years, the Savoyard sees it as a beneficial break for her mental health. “There I still plan for ten or fifteen years,” she says. I’m pumped and this has boosted my motivation. I find that the sanction is heavy but if it served any purpose, that’s it. I’m looking forward to the 2030 Olympics (in the Alps) and that helps ease my pain a little. I tell myself that we will experience the same thing as Milan but better in four years. »
