French Giant Slalom Star Thibaut Favrot Breaks Silence on Grueling Medical Off-Season

French giant slalom specialist Thibaut Favrot has broken weeks of silence, revealing a complex and painful medical journey that has kept him away from the snow this off-season. Despite undergoing major hip surgery and subsequent spinal thermocoagulation, the skier remains highly focused on returning for the national team’s September training camp in South America.

Thibaut Favrot (born 22 December 1994 in Duppigheim, Bas-Rhin) is a French alpine skier. He competed for France at the 2022 Winter Olympics.[1]

Favrot began skiing with a local club at the age of six. He is also a member of the French military ski team

Favrot, who had been noticeably quiet on social media, took to Instagram to share a candid, behind-the-scenes look at the physical toll elite athleticism demands away from the spotlight.

"I don't count the obstacles — I count the days that bring me closer to my return."

— Thibaut Favrot via Instagram

A Two-Front Medical Battle

The end of Favrot's 2025–26 campaign was heavily compromised by severe back pain. In a bid to resolve chronic issues, medical staff initially targeted his right hip. The surgery was particularly significant given Favrot's history; he had previously undergone surgery on his left hip in 2023, which was paired with a reconstruction of his left knee’s anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

However, after grueling weeks of post-op rehabilitation, his highly anticipated return to snow was cut short. The hip was recovering, but his back was not cooperating.

"Despite all the work I put in, my return to skiing wasn't successful. My back still wouldn't allow me to fully express myself," Favrot explained. "We therefore decided to perform thermocoagulation on the most inflamed disc segments to eliminate this persistent pain."

Understanding Thermocoagulation

Thermocoagulation is a specialized, minimally invasive but highly targeted procedure. It utilizes localized heat (radiofrequency energy) to selectively desensitize the tiny nerve fibers sending pain signals from the inflamed intervertebral discs to the brain. For a giant slalom skier—whose spine must absorb high-velocity, high-impact forces through every tight turn—this procedure represents a vital lifeline to salvage his career trajectory.

The Road to South America

With the spinal procedure completed, the race against the clock is officially underway. Favrot is channeling all his energy into a rapid recovery with one immediate target: joining the French Alpine Ski Team's critical winter preparation camp in South America this coming September.

Argentina and Chile traditionally host these late-summer snow camps, offering the team world-class winter conditions while Europe is in the heat of summer.

For Favrot, the trip is about more than just athletic preparation—it is about reclaiming his identity on the slopes.

"The goal is clear: to be physically ready for the training camp in South America in September and to rediscover the joy of skiing at my best. These past few months have taught me one thing: obstacles are part of the journey. They don't define an athlete, they forge their character."