Double Olympic champion rushed to hospital after suffering freak injury in wave pool

Double Olympic snowboard champion Anna Gasser was rushed to hospital after a freak wave pool injury that saw her arm ripped from a shoulder socket.

Gasser, 33, has been aiming to defend her crown at the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina early next year before retiring. But she is now facing a spell of recuperation after immediately undergoing surgery.

Gasser was surfing in an artificial wave pool in Munich when she fell off her board and suffered the horror injury.

She has cancelled a training camp in Australia but confirmed her surgery was a success and hopes to make a full recovery in time for the Games, which take place in northern Italy from February 6 to 22.

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Gasser said: “Crazy how everything can change in a second. Had a freak accident surfing and dislocated my shoulder. Decided to fix it right away to be 100 per cent again for next season.

“Sad that my summer plans changed and that I’m forced to watch from the sidelines for now. But I’ll try to make the best out of it and come back strong.”

In addition to winning gold at Pyeongchang 2018 and Beijing 2022, Gasser has won Big Air world titles at Sierra Nevada in 2017 and Bakuriani 2023.

She was also a promising gymnast and part of the Austrian national team until she quit aged 15.

Gasser later added in a statement: “The examinations showed that the shoulder was briefly dislocated. The labrum and biceps tendon were affected.

“The surgery restored the necessary stability in the shoulder. Even though it isn’t easy for me, I will have to be patient for now.

“After that, I will concentrate on training and compete in selected World Cup competitions so that I can travel to the Olympic games in Italy optimally prepared.”

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