The National Times - Australian snowboarder Brockhoff breaks back in World Cup crash

Australian snowboarder Brockhoff breaks back in World Cup crash


Australian snowboarder Brockhoff breaks back in World Cup crash
Australian snowboarder Brockhoff breaks back in World Cup crash / Photo: © GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

Three-time Olympic snowboarder Belle Brockhoff has been rushed to hospital after fracturing her back in a high-speed crash while competing in Georgia, the Australian Olympic Committee said Tuesday.

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The 32-year-old Australian, who came fourth in snowboard cross at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, suffered the injury at the weekend in a World Cup event.

"Belle was airlifted from the course and taken to a Tbilisi hospital where examination and imaging revealed a fracture of the L1 vertebrae, with no neurological damage," the AOC said.

"Belle was then evacuated to Greece for surgery."

Brockhoff was seen as a strong chance of making a fourth Olympics in Milan-Cortina next year.

"We will reassess options together with Belle following surgery over the next 48 hours," said Olympic Winter Institute of Australia chief Geoff Lipshut.

W.Baxter--TNT