16.02 Injured Russian Skicross Racer to Fly to Germany for Treatment

SOCHI, February 16 (R-Sport) - Injured Russian skicross racer Maria Komissarova has been flown to Germany to continue treatment after breaking her back in a training crash, the Russian Freestyle Federation said Sunday.

Komissarova sustained a vertebral fracture with dislocation in a crash while training Saturday morning at the PSX Olympic skicross venue at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park.

Doctors immediately performed a six-and-a-half-hour operation to treat the 23-year-old skier, and she was reported to be in grave but stable condition on Sunday. 

The freestyle federation said Sunday that "Komissarova has been transferred to Germany for the continuation of her treatment on a special flight. 

The statement on the federation's website said that "Russian specialists have given [her] all necessary medical treatment at this stage." 

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Komissarova in the hospital on Saturday evening, wishing her a speedy recovery and calling her father to assure him about the situation.

Komissarova's best career result came with a second-place finish at a World Cup event in 2012, but she was not seen as a medal contender in the women's ski cross competition in Sochi.