My background on the slopes as a doctor
I have spent 15 years as an orthopaedic trauma surgeon at China’s National Centre for Orthopaedics, managing severe injuries calmly and guiding patients compassionately through their fears and uncertainties. As part of the alpine skiing rescue team at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, I treated critical ski injuries, notably in the Men’s Downhill event, becoming the first Chinese doctor to stand on an Olympic alpine skiing course (figure 1). Yet nothing fully prepared me for the moment when I became the injured patient myself.
Figure 1
Rescue operation during the Men’s Downhill event at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics (7 Feb 2022). I am fourth from the left wearing the red helmet.
My injury journey
It was the second day of 2024. Skiing down a challenging, ungroomed mogul slope, I suddenly lost control and fell heavily onto my left thigh, initially feeling only dull pain. Standing slowly, I limped to the edge of the slope and sat down, initially relieved—until I noticed blood staining the blade of my ski. Taking off my glove and touching my thigh, I felt warm blood seeping through my fingers. I quickly realised my injury was severe—a deep, open wound so large I couldn’t feel the bottom. Completely alone, I felt utterly helpless for the first time in my life. Instinctively, I packed my glove into the …
