Forced to scrap the entire season, she will be out for at least half a year after a paragliding accident. Thus, her Olympic dream is over before the snow has even fallen.

It was last Thursday that one of France’s biggest Olympic hopes was seriously injured in a paragliding accident — on her own birthday.

The 2024/2025 season had been her best and most consistent so far in her career, and Flora Dolci was considered one of France’s top medal contenders for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina 2026. But last Thursday, the 26-year-old had to face the reality that the 2026 Olympics would go on without her.

Dolci sustained a fracture in the lower part of her spine. She underwent surgery in Grenoble on Friday and now faces six months of rehabilitation — meaning she will miss the entire 2025/2026 season.

Risk of long-term effects

Because the fracture is located in the spine, extra caution is required during rehabilitation.

“There is a risk of neurological aftereffects,” said France’s national team doctor Thibault Barbe to the French newspaper L’Équipe.

“She is doing well under the circumstances. She can walk. But regarding the prognosis, it will take at least six months before she can be back in competitive form,” Barbe added.

A huge loss

Paragliding is one of Dolci’s great passions, and she is considered an experienced flyer. Nevertheless, things went wrong. The injuries she sustained in the accident have forced the cross-country skiing star to give up her Olympic dream even before the season begins.

For the French national team, the accident is a double tragedy — they are both heartbroken for Dolci and losing an important member of their Olympic squad.

“We’re relieved that she came out of it as well as she did, but also deeply saddened after all the work we put in toward the Olympics,” said coach Aleandre Pouyé.

Also Read: Program for cross-country skiing at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics

More French stars struggling

Dolci is not the only French cross-country skier dealing with injuries.

Last week, it was revealed that Lucas Chanavat, one of the main rivals to Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, is also at risk of missing the 2026 Olympics.

Read More: Hasn’t trained for a month – now the Olympic dream may be over

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