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Serious training accident in Planica: athlete evacuated by helicopter
An athlete in the Nordic combined discipline was injured on Friday, October 30, in a landing accident during training at the ski jumping facility in Planica, Slovenia. A rescue helicopter transported the athlete to a hospital in Ljubljana.
The Polish Ski Association confirmed that the athlete is a member of the national team. The athlete's identity and details of the injury were not disclosed, but the association's sports director, Kamil Pondinich, said that the athlete's condition was stable and that there was no danger to their life.
The accident was reported to emergency services at around 9:57 a.m. According to the information provided, the athlete crashed after landing and required urgent medical treatment. The athlete is expected to remain under observation at the hospital until Monday, when the doctors and the association will decide on the next steps in treatment.
Ski jumping is considered one of the fastest and most dangerous winter sports. Athletes reach high speeds, launch from a steep ramp and may travel more than 200 meters through the air. Studies in the sport indicate a significant incidence of injuries, although fatalities are rare.
A study conducted among elite female ski jumpers over three competitive seasons documented 54 injuries across 205 athlete-seasons. Most of the injuries were acute, and approximately 70 percent of injury events occurred following landings that ended in crashes. In one-third of the cases, the injury was classified as severe, with the knee being the area most frequently affected.
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