Athlete rolls over with bobsled: rescued in hospital in Treviso

Great fear during the first free practice session of bobsledding: the Latvian driver Renars Grantiņs lost control of his vehicle and flipped over, slamming into the track of the Cortina Sliding Centre. The’athlete was immediately transported to the Cà Foncello hospital in Treviso, where champion Lindsey Vonn is also hospitalized.

Grantis suffered a dislocation of the brain vertebra, and was in danger of being paralyzed, reports Corriere della Sera. These are the words of Veneto 118 director Paolo Rosi: “He was treated in time, he was in danger of being quadriplegic. The spine has been stabilized, I don”t think he can return to the track but he has been reunited with colleagues”. Grantins is now safe but unlikely to be able to participate in the races, which are scheduled to start on Feb. 16.

“The condition is currently stable – said Latvian Olympic Committee President Raimonds Lazdiņš – We wish him a speedy and complete recovery and look forward to his return to Latvia. Unfortunately, we have to admit that because of the injury he suffered, he will miss the Olympic Games” this time.

Because of Grantins’injury, Latvia has forfeited the four-man bobsled competitions: she will participate only in the pairs bobsled competition.