Axel Lindqvist, a promising Swedish alpine skier, suffered a serious leg injury during summer training. The 23-year-old athlete from Sundsvall, Sweden, shared the news on June 1 via Instagram from his hospital bed in Grenoble, France.
Lindqvist wrote that he “completely snapped” his lower leg a few days earlier. He posted an X-ray showing fractures to both the tibia and fibula. The injury required complex surgery, including the use of a medullary nail and wire cerclage for stabilization. Despite the pain and uncertainty, Lindqvist expressed hope for recovery. He quoted Arnold Schwarzenegger’s famous line from The Terminator: “I’ll be back.”
This injury comes at a critical time for Lindqvist, who has been steadily rising on the World Cup circuit. He debuted in the World Cup slalom event at Kitzbühel in January 2023 and competed in Schladming later that month. Though he has yet to advance to the second run in top-level events, Lindqvist has shown strong results in the European Cup, including 61 starts and a career-best 7th place finish in Berchtesgaden in January 2024.
He also contributed to Sweden’s gold medal in the mixed alpine skiing event at the 2025 FISU Games in Bardonecchia, racing alongside teammates Stella Rodling Swanberg and Regina Falk.
While the recovery ahead may be challenging, Lindqvist remains determined. The skiing community wishes him a full and speedy return to the slopes.