Maria Hofl-Riesch clinched the women's alpine skiing downhill World Cup at Lenzerheide on Wednesday, but her hopes of taking the overall crown were all but shattered by a bad fall.
The German came to grief halfway down the course and was taken to hospital for a checkup on injuries to her arm and shoulder.
But the only rival who could pip her to the downhill World Cup, Austria's Anna Fenninger, could only place sixth when she needed to win the race to take the title.
However, Fenninger did move 11 points ahead in the overall World Cup standings, and with Hofl-Riesch injured and in doubt for the final three races of the season, the Austrian could have done enough to win the overall Crystal Globe.
Hofl-Riesch was already aware she had clinched the downhill title when she went off last in the race.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
But it was clear from the start that a high fever she had been running was unsettling her and she lost control of her skis halfway down, sending her crashing into the safety netting.
"Let's hope that Maria is okay and that she can compete," said Fenninger.
"As for me, I just need to focus on my two next races and not concern myslef with what she can or cannot do."
The race was won by Switzerland's Lara Gut, who chalked up her sixth race victory of the season ahead of Austrian's Elisabeth Goergl and fellow Swiss Fraenzi Aufdenblatten.
The final race meeting of the season continues on Thursday with a super-G that will likely see Fenninger, the Olympic champion in the discipline, move further ahead in the overall standings.
