US Skier Suffers Awful Fall, Father Posts Heartbreaking Message of Support

You train your entire life for this moment.

Every early morning workout, pulled muscle and weekend spent competing builds up to this: The chance to take home a medal in the sport you’ve made your life.

Heidi Kloser did all those things but will not be competing in the 2014 Winter Olympics after suffering a terrible accident in Sochi on Thursday,

Kloser, an American mogul skier, was participating in a warmup run before the first round of qualifiers when she went down hard on the course.

According to Linsday H. Jones of USA Today Sports, fellow skiers knew a serious accident had occurred when race officials hurried to shut down the course. 

Kerstin Joensson/Associated Press

“Next thing I know, they closed the course,” said Hannah Kearney, a former gold medal winner in the mogul.

The team’s fears were confirmed when the 21-year-old skier was taken via ambulance to an emergency room for X-rays and an MRI. 

According to Mike Foss of For The Win, Kloser’s father, Mike Kloser, was on hand in Sochi with other members of the Kloser family. Mike later posted a heartbreaking Facebook message updating fans and friends on her condition.

Mike wrote that Heidi had suffered a partially torn MCL, fully torn ACL, an impact fracture on her femur and a bruise on her tibia plateau. Worse than the injury itself were the words of his daughter, who asked her father if she could still consider herself a U.S. Olympian.

"

When she was in the ambulance, she asked if she was still an Olympian…We said of course she is…Thanks for all the support we have already received from so many of you. We LOVE you HEIDI!!!!

"

Indeed, just getting to the Olympics is an accomplishment of a lifetime, and no injury can take away the fact that she earned her spot.

As painful as it is to lose your opportunity when you’re so close, it’s clear Heidi has the love and support she needs in this awful moment in her young life.

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