The following is a translation of an article from a 1948 issue of Le Soleil, Quebec City newspaper
Thanks to Jeanette Heeley for providing this article.

Pierre Jalbert will not Participate in the Olympic Games

The brilliant Quebec skier breaks a leg while training for the downhill competition at St. Moritz, Switzerland — he was Canada’s big hope — everyone took this news with sadness—Laferté, Clifford and Bill Irwin were lucky—Freezing rain has frozen all the trails

By Guy Lemieux

The Canadian Olympic Ski Team has just been severely shocked by the loss of one of their best hopes for the slalom competition in the person of Pierre Jalbert, our brilliant local skier who fractured a leg at St. Moritz yesterday morning.

Pierrot¹, who was navigating a steep hill at a very high speed, was unable to maintain control on an icy surface because of the recent rain and he fell on his side and received a simple fracture of his leg.

Canada’s best hope was with Jalbert at the Olympics that will begin at the end of January, and when he was informed of the accident, Mr. Sidney Dawes, President of the Canadian Olympic Committee, was very sadden and declared that Jalbert was a great loss for the team.

A very well known person

Here at home, Jalbert was known as the greatest Canadian skiing virtuoso and was also known internationally for his accomplishments in this sport. Pierrot started at the age of 10 where one could see him everyday practicing his favourite sport under the eye of Michel Dehouck and Conrad Delisle who had great admiration for him.

Since then, he hasn’t stopped gaining victory after victory. Last year he won the Canadian championship in combined downhill and slalom skiing. He also established a speed record at Mont Ste. Anne², a record which has not since been broken and which will be very difficult to break.

Jalbert was the only representative of Quebec City for the downhill and slalom ski competition and skiers all over the world are saddened by this unfortunate accident and wish Pierrot a fast recovery and hope that he will be able to continue racing next year.

Very Courageous Athlete

But as we have known Pierrot for many years, we know he has a will of steel and a determination to match and will be back on the trails shortly. We remember well two years ago when he had a severe case of the flu after excess training. Our friend woke up one morning incapable of making a move in his bed. After consultation with a doctor, they found that he had rheumatic fever and this illness kept him confined to bed for 2½ months suffering terribly. His doctor saw little chance for a complete recovery.

With remarkable determination, at the beginning of April of that year, we saw a rejuvenated Pierrot preparing himself for the next season during which he brought home many wins.

So this fracture will certainly give him a new desire for skiing that he is known for but sadly, he will not be able to take part in the Olympics this winter but it’s a matter of time before he proves to us he is the same Pierrot.

His Mother is Very Saddened

When we asked Mme. Jalbert what she thought about this news, she told us her pain was indescribable and believed that Pierrot was probably suffering much more to be at the Olympics as a spectator than thinking of his injury.

This leaves the number of representatives on the Olympic team at 10 and, as far as a choice to replace Pierrot in the downhill and slalom race, Jack Houghton, President of the Canadian Amateur Ski Association, declared that he will probably choose among the 8 members of the men’s Olympic team. The choice will be made by the couch Louis Cochand ... (Rest of the article concerns the other skiers on the team.)

Footnotes:
1 Pierrot is a pet name for Pierre
2 Mont Ste. Anne is just east of Quebec City and well known for skiing