Andorra's Cande Moreno Out of 2026 Olympics with Torn ACL After Crash

Andorra's flag-bearer Cande Moreno has been ruled out of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics after medical scans confirmed a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee and damage to the ligament in her right thumb following a heavy fall during Sunday's women's downhill at Cortina d'Ampezzo. The injuries require about six months of recovery, ending her involvement in events including the team combined on February 10 and super-G on February 12.

Wearing bib 26, Moreno started strongly, just 0.19 seconds behind leader Breezy Johnson after the first sector. She crashed on landing a jump, suffering a severe knee twist that halted the race for several minutes while medics attended her on the slope. She received on-site treatment before airlift to hospital. This marks her second major knee injury at the venue, after tearing ligaments in her right knee two years ago. Pre-race training had been hampered by poor weather and a shortened course that athletes called unfair.

Teammate Jordina Caminal, in bib 29 and making her Olympic debut despite back problems that kept her bedridden 10 days prior, secured Andorra's best-ever women's downhill result at 24th place with a time of 1:41.34—5.24 seconds off Johnson's winning 1:36.10. Germany's Emma Aicher earned silver in 1:36.14, with Italy's Sofia Goggia taking bronze in 1:36.69. Caminal noted the rapidly worsening track conditions but voiced pride in her performance and hopes for Moreno's recovery, saying she gave everything despite recent health struggles.

The downhill followed a heavy crash by US skier Lindsey Vonn in her final Olympic outing. Andorra will also sit out the February 10 team combined due to Moreno's injury and Carla Mijares's left big toe flexor issue, sustained training after the late-January World Cup in Spindleruv Mlyn. Mijares, unable to train amid ongoing pain, is in physiotherapy ahead of a possible slalom on February 18.

Initial hopes for a record seven athletes faded after cross-country skier Irineu Esteve withdrew at the last minute over physical and mental challenges, in consultation with coaches—a decision Sports Minister Mònica Bonell described as honest, with government support. Andorra now fields six: Joan Verdú, Moreno, Gina del Rio, Mijares, Caminal, and Xavier Cornella—matching previous highs from Lillehammer 1994, Vancouver 2010, and Sochi 2014.

The team had marched third in Friday's "Armonia"-themed decentralized opening ceremony across venues including San Siro stadium, Arc della Pace, Bormio, Cortina, Livigno, and Piazza Dibona. Verdú carried the flag in Livigno with Cornella; Moreno led in Cortina with Caminal and Mijares. Olympic Committee president Xavier Espot Miró, at San Siro with Bonell, praised the multi-site format and Andorra's presence, while meeting small-nation counterparts. Bonell hailed the delegation as a milestone.

Del Rio placed 44th in Saturday's women's 20km skiathlon at Tesero, 7:50.8 behind Sweden's Frida Karlsson, after a pole snapped in a collision that hurt her leg. Coach Xabier del Val highlighted positives on the demanding course. Upcoming: Verdú's giant slalom on February 14, Cornella's slalom on February 16, Mijares's slalom on February 18, and Del Rio's mass start on February 22.