Austrian ski jumper Eva Pinkelnig eyes return from cruciate ligament injury

The ÖSV team athlete said her goal is to be at the start when the new winter World Cup season opens, with the traditional German venue of Klingenthal among the early stops on the calendar. She is also targeting later stops in Lillehammer, Norway, and Rasnov, Romania, venues where she has previously collected strong results.

Pinkelnig is one of the most experienced members of the Austrian women's ski jumping squad and has been a regular podium contender in recent seasons. Her absence was felt by the ÖSV team, which had to rely on younger jumpers and on teammates such as Lisa Eder to fill the gap during the second half of the previous winter.

Targets for the winter World Cup

Her planned return comes at a time when the Austrian women's program has been working to broaden its depth chart ahead of the next major championship cycle. Coaches have used her time out to bring younger athletes into World Cup starts, while keeping Pinkelnig involved in training camps as her knee recovered.

Medical staff cleared Pinkelnig to resume full training earlier in the summer, and she has since completed a block of jump sessions on snow in her home region. According to the ORF interview, she has focused on rebuilding leg strength, balance and landing stability, the key areas affected by a cruciate ligament rupture.

Pinkelnig acknowledged that the timeline for a full return to her previous jump lengths and competitive rhythm is not guaranteed, and said she would judge her form in early-season qualifiers before committing to a full World Cup schedule. The first races of the winter traditionally take place in late November.

What comes next for Pinkelnig

Team officials quoted by ORF said they expect Pinkelnig to be available for selection from the opening World Cup weekend onward, provided she comes through the autumn preparation block without setbacks. The ÖSV said it would announce its finalized World Cup squad closer to the season opener.

Pinkelnig's comeback is being framed within the Austrian team as a boost for both the women's squad and the broader national program, which is preparing for a championship winter. Her experience is seen as particularly valuable on the larger hills, where landing control is critical.

Speaking to ORF, Pinkelnig said she wanted to use the final weeks of summer training to sharpen her in-run speed and take-off timing, areas where she felt she had lost ground during the long layoff. She added that the support of her family and the ÖSV medical team had been central to her recovery.