Olympian Lais Souza Severely Injured in Skiiing Crash

Jan 29, 2014 by Anne Phillips

Former Olympic gymnast Lais Souza was attempting to become Brazil's first freestyle skier to compete in an Olympic Games but will face a long road to recovery after a serious training crash Monday.

Souza was training in Park City, Utah when she crashed, resulting in severe trauma to her spine. She was promptly taken the the University of Utah hospital and underwent spine surgery, according to the Brazilian Olympic Committee. Further reports state that she is currently unable to move her arms and legs.

"Lais has a long recovery process in front of her,” Team Brasil doctor Antonio Marttos said in the report from the committee. ”A long-term prognostic cannot be predicted at this time. Her medical team is doing everything possible to allow her to have the best recovery possible."

As a gymnast, Souza was a member of Brazil's 2004 and 2008 Olympic gymnastics teams. She especially excelled on vault and floor and placed 4th on vault at the 2006 World Championships. Souza returned to gymnastics competition in 2011 after a three year break. She was named to her third-straight Olympic team in 2012, but a hand injury forced her to withdraw just weeks before the Games.