Zurich - Olympic downhill champion Didier Defago ruptured the cruciate ligament in his left knee on Wednesday and will probably miss the full season, the Swiss ski federation said.
The federation said that Defago, 32, sustained the injury during super-g training in Zermatt and will undergo surgery on Saturday in Geneva.
"The diagnosis means that Didier Defago will likely be sidelined for the entire season," said men's alpine team doctor Hans Spring.
The alpine ski season starts in late October and is highlighted by the world championships in February 2011 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.
Defago has three World Cup race victories and enjoyed his biggest career moment in February when he won the Olympic downhill in Whistler, Canada.
