Winter Olympics star airlifted to hospital after struggling horror harm
Fredrik Moeller had to be airlifted from a training slope following a high-speed crash just days before the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina are set to begin.
The Norwegian is the hot favourite to claim gold at this month’s games, but he needed urgent medical attention after crashing on the slopes. Moeller, 25, lost control on the training slope and veered off course after his left ski gave way, causing him to lose balance and fall down the slope as he picked up speed.
He was sat up while being tended to by medics, appearing to have discomfort in his left shoulder. The star was airlifted to the nearest medical centre and will undergo treatment.
(Image: Dustin Satloff, Getty Images)
Norwegian team sources are yet to confirm the severity of Moeller’s injuries, with officials saying further updates will be provided once medical examinations are completed.
Moeller’s participation in the games is now firmly in doubt with the start of the event just two days away. The alpine ski racer features prominently in Norway’s Olympic plans and claimed first place in Italy at the Super G.
Moeller has defied expectations to even be in contention for the games after he suffered a serious crash in December. He sustained fractures to three vertebrae and lost some of his front teeth.
He said: “Thank you for all the kind messages! Missing some of my front teeth and a couple of small but stable fractures in spine (T4,T5,T7). Doctor said I should be able to start moving again after 30 days, so crossing my fingers for the Olympics.”
Commentators on the pursuit praised Moeller’s recovery and credentials in the Olympics, and were discussing his return when during his crash.
They said: “Fredrik Moeller for the Norwegian teams, burst on the scene picked up podiums in the infancy of his World Cup career. He’s one of the favourites to pick up World Cup gold on a regular basis before his crash over in Italy and broke three vertebrae. The fact he is racing again..”
The co-commentator added: “I wonder if it was that lack of racing experience over the last month or so as he has been recovering from that nasty crash in December, it is just sort of showing here a little bit.”
