Olympic Skier Tereza Nová in a Medically Induced Coma After Crashing in Training and Undergoing Brain Surgery

Mar. 15, 2025

Czech skier Tereza Nová.Photo:Michaela Rihova/ CTK via AP Images

Michaela Rihova/ CTK via AP Images

Tereza Nová, an Olympic alpine skier, is in a medically induced coma.

The Czech athlete, 26, was hospitalized with a serious head injury after experiencing a fall while training in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, on Friday, Jan. 24, the Czech ski federation announced in apress release. She underwent surgery to reduce swelling in her brain the following day, and is now in a medically induced coma.

Tereza Nová training in January 2024.Klaus Pressberger/SEPA.Media/Getty

Klaus Pressberger/SEPA.Media/Getty

Haisl also noted that Nová is “under the supervision of top doctors,” and said she would not be competing in the weekend’s World Cup women’s downhill races as previously scheduled. The spokesperson also wished her “strength and a speedy recovery” on behalf of the organization.

On Saturday, Jan. 25, Haisl revealed in another statement that the Olympian had undergone surgery in Murnau am Staffelsee, a town near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and was “currently in an induced coma, where she will remain for as long as the doctors deem it appropriate.”

PEOPLE inquired about Nova’s condition on Sunday, Jan. 26, but the Czech ski federation did not immediately respond.

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Tereza Nová competes in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.Julian Finney/Getty

Julian Finney/Getty

Nová competed in her first World Cup in 2019, and made her Olympic debut three years later, according to herInternational Ski and Snowboard Federationbio.

During the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, she represented Team Czech Republic in four alpine skiing races — Mixed Team Parallel, Women’s Alpine Combined, Women’s Downhill and Women’s Super G — in which she placed 14th, 14th, 28th and 33rd, respectively, according to theOlympics’ official website.

She is also a university student studying strength and conditioning training, according to herInstagramaccount, where fans have flocked to send well-wishes following her Jan. 24 training accident.

“Wish you a speedy recovery,” reads one comment on her latestpost, a training diary shared two days before her hospitalization. “Heal up fast, fighter," another says.

source: people.com