Wötzel/Steuer won the 1995 European Championships and the 1997 World Championships in Lausanne, Switzerland. Steuer underwent his fifth or sixth knee surgery in mid-1997.[3] On December 8, 1997, a passing car's side window hit Steuer's arm, partly tearing ligaments in his right shoulder.[2][5] Pain radiated to his neck and face and caused headaches but he continued to skate.[3][2] Wötzel/Steuer won the silver medal at the Champions Series Final, held December 19–20, 1997 in Munich, Germany. When he caught her during a triple twist in the long program, Steuer felt a sharp pain that extended to his head.[2] They stayed off the ice for the following three weeks.[2] Wötzel/Steuer missed the 1998 European Championships as a result but returned in time for the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, where they won the bronze medal.