SAO PAULO (AP) — The Brazilian Olympic Committee says the gymnast who was expected to compete in freestyle skiing at the Sochi Games is unable to move her arms and legs following an accident while training in the United States.
The committee said Wednesday that Lais Souza, who participated in the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics, is being treated at an intensive care unit at University of Utah hospital. Doctors say she is “awake and can follow commands” but is breathing with the help of ventilators.
The committee said Souza needed surgery to have her spine realigned after sustaining “severe trauma” in Monday’s accident in Salt Lake City.
Team Brasil doctor Antonio Marttos said in a statement a “long-term prognostic cannot be predicted at this time,” adding Souza will endure “a long recovery process.”
