© RIA Novosti/Anton DenisovMaria Komissarova
Skicross racer Maria Komissarova sustained the injury while training at the PSX Olympic skicross venue at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park, the Russian Freestyle Federation said earlier.
A source close to the situation told R-Sport the injury was a fracture of the spine with a dislocation.
"The character of the injury doesn't allow for her transportation to Moscow," the source said. "Now doctors will decide what to do further but an urgent operation with be carried out at Krasnaya Polyana hospital," the source added.
The 23-year-old's best career result came with second place at a World Cup event in 2012, but she was not expected to be a medal contender in the women's ski cross competition Friday. The federation has not commented on the nature of the injury other than to say it is "serious" and that Komissarova is ruled out of competition.
So far in the February 7-23 Sochi Olympics, serious injuries have been rare. A track worker broke both legs when hit by a non-competition bobsled Thursday, and a Russian ski jumper broke two ribs in a training crash Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Canadian slopestyle skier Yuki Tsubota suffered a broken jaw when her own knee struck her in the face during a crash in the final of her competition.
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Update: Vladimir Putin Visits Injured Russian Skier in Hospital
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Maria Komissarova in a hospital on Saturday after the Olympic skier underwent emergency surgery for a fractured spine.
The 23-year-old remains in "grave but stable" condition on Sunday, following her horrific crash during a training run for the ski cross competition the previous day, Russian officials told the AP. She was later airlifted to a clinic in Germany for further treatment.
Komissarova suffered a fractured 12th dorsal vertebrae in her lower-middle back after falling while exiting the third of a series of jumps near the top of the course.
She was rushed to a hospital near the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park where doctors inserted a metal implant into her spine during an emergency six-and-a-half hour operation, the Russian freestyle ski federation said.
Putin turned up at Komissarova's bedside on Saturday night wearing a white hospital coat. The president "wished her a speedy recovery" and spoke with the skier's father over the phone, telling him "doctors will do everything possible for her recovery," medical staff said in a statement.
"It's (Her condition's) considered satisfactory taking into account the gravity of the trauma," said Mikhail Verzhba, spokesman for the Russian freestyle ski federation.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Reader Comments
I send Prayers on her behalf.