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SAN SICARIO, Italy (CP) - Allison Forsyth of Nanaimo, B.C., was taken away by helicopter after becoming the third woman to crash during the second day of women's downhill training on Monday.
The 27-year-old was airlifted to nearby Sestriere to be examined. Team officials had no immediate word on her condition. Defending Olympic champion Carole Montillet-Carles of France and gold medal contender Lindsey Kildow of the United States crashed during earlier runs.
Montillet-Carles lost control while landing a jump midway through her run and crashed into the protective fencing that lines the course. She was tended to for several minutes and then taken down on a sled. She appeared to be conscious.
Kildow crashed after her left ski slid out on a relatively flat stretch as she began to turn right around a gate. She immediately went into an awkward split with her right knee buckling and slamming against the ground.
Her momentum carried her into the air for about five metres and she landed on her back, slamming her head before stopping on the side of the course.
She was heaving with pain as medical personnel rushed to her aid. As she reached the bottom of the mountain in a toboggan, her legs were splayed and she was sobbing.
Kildow was taken by helicopter to a hospital in Turin, according to Pascale Vogeli, the press manager for the downhill venue.
The extent of her injuries was not immediately known, and a U.S. Ski Team spokesman could not be reached for comment.
The 21-year-old American won two downhills on the World Cup circuit this year and was ranked No. 2 in the standings.
American Julia Mancuso, who waited near the start box as the next skier scheduled after Kildow, said the course was similar to the first training runs on Sunday.
"There's just a lot of rolls, anything can happen," Mancuso said. "You can come off a jump, catch an edge and be a little unlucky."
© The Canadian Press, 2006
