Czech skier Tereza Nova is fighting for her life in hospital after being placed in a medically induced coma following a horror crash in Germany.
Nova, 26, underwent brain surgery before being placed in the coma after crashing in training for Saturday’s World Cup women’s downhill in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria.
The Czech ski federation said the Olympian needed surgery to reduce brain swelling at a hospital in nearby Murnau after she went down in the final training session on the Kandahar course on Friday.
The federation said she ‘will remain in the medically induced coma as long as deemed necessary by the medical team.’
‘We are all thinking of Tereza and wish her a speedy recovery and lots of strength,’ they added.
Nova competed in four races at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, with 14th place in the combined event her best result. She has competed in World Cup races since 2019.
Czech skier Tereza Nova is fighting for her life in hospital after a horror crash on Saturday
The 26-year-old Olympian crashed in training for Saturday’s World Cup women’s downhill
Her life-threatening injury is the latest in a long list of serious accidents that have rocked the skiing world of late.
Austrian Nina Ortlieb also fractured her lower leg in a high-speed crash during Saturday’s Downhill race in Garmisch.
Skiing experts are demanding changes to dangerous high-speed events that have led to a number of serious injuries in recent months.
The Kandahar course that Nova crashed on is known for its steep descent and menacing speed.