Russian freestyle skier Maria Komissarova says she is paralyzed from the waist down after breaking her back in a training crash at the Sochi Winter Olympics.
The 23-year-old underwent two operations after suffering a fracture and dislocation of the spine and has been rehabilitating at a German clinic.
"I do not know where to start, but I do not want to shrink into myself because everyone has supported me so much," she said on her Instagram page on Wednesday.
"Thank you! It has been 10 days since my spine surgeries. I don't feel the body below the navel. But I am strong and I know that sometime I will definitely recover feet!"
Komissarova sustained the injury while training at the Olympic skicross venue at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park.
She had a metal implant inserted during a six-hour operation at a hospital specially built for the Games, after which she was flown to Germany for further treatment in Munich.
Before leaving Russia she was visited by President Vladimir Putin, while the country's sports minister Vitaly Mutko had previously said the state would pay for her treatment.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.