Australian downhill skier AJ Bear has crashed at high speed in the latter stages of the Bormio downhill, damaging an anterior cruciate ligament and potentially ending his skiing career with a third injury in three successive seasons.

Bear had been on track for the best performance of his career, rating 11th, 16th and 10th for the first three of the Italian event’s five stages, but caught an edge in the fourth stage which sent him into the safety netting on a course that had also ended his 2002/03 season.

The condition of his right knee was assessed in a clinic in Austria, and was operated on overnight. On the positive side, it seemed there was no other ligament or cartilage damage.

The 27-year-old Olympic Winter Institute skier had made a strong comeback to the World Cup after last season’s injury with a 31st placing in the opening 2004/05 Lake Louise downhill in November.

He also posted a 35th place in super G at the same resort.

Although his results in the next five events of the season had not matched that early form, expectations were high that he was the most likely to move into the company of Australia’s World Cup winning downhillers Malcolm Milne and Steven Lee.

Bear had suffered a broken arm in a crash on the same Bormio race course two years ago, and then incurred a major knee injury last season in Val Gardena.

Bear’s team-mate Craig Branch finished in 48th place in yesterday’s event, which was won by Austrian Johann Grugger.