Cyprien Sarrazin was in a coma for six days after a serious fall at the end of 2024 and his skull had to be cut open. To this day he is fighting for a comeback. Here he explains what the body and head are like. He has a clear deadline for returning to the World Cup.
He won the legendary Streif twice and was at the peak of his career when a fall on the descent in Bormio almost took his life in December 2024. Cyprien Sarrazin (31) was in a coma for six days, had cerebral hemorrhages and the top of his skull had to be cut open. The hole was the size of three credit cards. To this day he is fighting for a return to the World Cup. A meeting at the legendary Hahnenkamm race in Kitzbühel, 13 months after his bad fall.
Ask: How do you feel when you see the route here?
Cyprien Sarrazin: There are a lot of emotions. I feel good, physically and mentally. That’s the most important thing.
Ask: A year ago you sent a greeting to Kitzbühel via video message.
Sarrazin: Yes, I really wanted to do that. It was a good moment because I had just had an MRI and knew that I wouldn’t have any permanent damage to my head or nerves. So the news at that moment was finally good. Before that, no one knew whether I would be able to lead a normal life again.
Ask: Until then, it was normal for you to be a professional skier and ski the most dangerous descents in the world. Will that ever happen again for you?
Sarrazin: After the fall, there were doctors who said: “You may never recover from the consequences of the fall, you can forget about sport. And it would be a miracle if you could lead a normal life again.” The same guy five months later said, “Hey, see you at the Olympics.” I myself never said that I would definitely return. But I feel like it could be possible.
Ask: Is there a deadline?
Sarrazin: Most certainly. If I’m not back next season, it’s over.
Ask: Is it on the head or on the body?
Sarrazin: Currently it’s more the body. I had problems with my knees even before the fall. It was so bad that I stopped making turns before the races. The first gate in the race was the first corner of the day, before that I just slid. I can’t even remember skiing without pain. It even hurts just sitting on a chair. But do you want me to tell you something? Three days ago I went cross-country skiing and it didn’t hurt. (laughs)
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Ask: And the head? Do you think you can take that risk again after seeing how bad it can turn out?
Sarrazin: If I enjoy it and ski like I did two years ago, that’s part of my personality and my life. Then I accept this risk too. It makes me feel more alive than anywhere else and nothing can replace that. But if I don’t feel that fun anymore, I’ll definitely stop.
Ask: What memories do you still have of the fall?
Sarrazin: I don’t remember the accident from my perspective. The memory extends to 40 meters before the fall and starts again six days later. That’s probably why I can still enjoy skiing. Otherwise it would be pure fear.
Ask: Was your crash typical of the difficult track in Bormio or could it have happened anywhere?
Sarrazin: I saw the video of the fall and I didn’t make any mistakes. The conditions on the slopes were not good. It was icy and immediately afterwards very aggressive snow and this wave. But that can happen anywhere. We are downhill skiers, which is perhaps the most dangerous sport in the world.
The interview was conducted for the Sports Competence Center (WELT, SPORT BILD, BILD) and was first published in BILD am SONNTAG.
