Serious crash of Daniela Iraschko-Stolz

Daniela Iraschko-Stolz suffered a serious crash during a training session in Lillehammer (NOR). It's questionable whether the Austrian will be able to compete in the ladies' season opener.

Austria's most successful female ski jumper, Daniela Iraschko-Stolz, crashed in the final jump of the afternoon training session on Monday. She sustained a nose injury with a suspected fracture. Due to the swelling, it was not possible to take an x-ray, so an exact diagnosis is not possible at the moment.

After her crash, in which Iraschko-Stolz hit the landing area of the Lysgardsbakken headfirst, she also complained about pain in her right knee. A serious knee injury was later ruled out in the hospital in Lillehammer. The ligaments in the joint are not injured and Iraschko-Stolz was already able to make jumps from a standing position.

Right now it is still possible, that the silver medalist of the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games might be able to compete in the ladies' World Cup opener this weekend in Lillehammer (NOR).

"We will have to wait and see how her pain develops over the next couple of days. Then we will be able to tell if it's possible and makes sense for her to compete. The doctors gave me the green light right now. If the pain allows it, Daniela will be able to compete, even if there is a suspected fracture. We will make the decision in the next few days", said head coach Harald Rodlauer.