Alpine skiing-Swiss Hintermann, 29, to miss upcoming season after cancer diagnosis

Swiss alpine ski racer Niels Hintermann will miss the 2024-25 season after being diagnosed with lymph node cancer, the 29-year-old said.

Hintermann will undergo outpatient chemotherapy and radiotherapy in the coming months, with the treatment and rehabilitation expected to take around six months, Swiss Ski, which is the winter sports federation for Switzerland, said.

Hintermann, who specialises in downhill, super-G and combined disciplines, represented Switzerland at the 2022 Winter Olympics, where he finished 16th in the men's downhill.

"Unfortunately, it shows once again how unpredictable and unplannable life is," Hintermann said in a statement published on Swiss Ski's website on Wednesday.

"The diagnosis is and remains shocking, but I am infinitely grateful that this type of cancer is very curable and that I can count on a great deal of support from my wife, my family, my sponsors, the association and, of course, my doctors.

"We are all pulling together and this will give me the strength to get through this difficult time. Now we have to get through the only important battle."

Walter O. Frey, Alpine Physician in Charge and Chief Medical Officer of Swiss Ski, said if all goes to plan, they "firmly hope that Niels will be back at full strength in the 2025-26 season."