Shadow of death over World Cup opener
LOS ANGELES: The death of France’s two-time Olympian David Poisson will weigh heavily on the hearts and minds of downhill ski racers as they start their season today in Lake Louise, Canada.
Poisson, a downhill bronze medalist at the 2013 World Championships, was killed after he lost a ski, went through the safety netting and struck a tree during training on Nov 13 at Nakiska ski resort. The 35-yearold Poisson was travelling at over 100 kilometres per hour when he lost his balance on a curve.
The Nakiska resort was used during the 1988 Calgary Olympics and is popular with many teams for preparations ahead of the World Cup events in the Canadian Rockies which traditionally opens the speed season.
Poisson was a hugely popular figure on the World Cup circuit, known by his nickname of “Caillou” — the French for pebble — given his short, muscular build.
Poisson made his World Cup debut in 2004 at the age of 20, earning his sole podium when he finished third in the downhill in Santa Caterina last season.
Poisson, the father of a young son, took part at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics at Vancouver and Sochi, finishing seventh and 16th respectively in the downhill races.
The Frenchman’s death is the 12th on the professional circuit, the last coming when compatriot Regine Cavagnoud died after hitting a German coach at the Austrian resort of Pitzal in 2001.
By contrast the Lake Louise course is considered one of the easier downhills on the World Cup circuit.
The last death of athlete during an Olympic Games also took place at a Canadian ski resort. Luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, of Georgia, was killed during a training run for the 2010 Winter Games in Whistler, British Columbia. AFP