Just a few days ago, the Czech skier was in the gym. All smiles and looking super focused while prepping for the World Cup women’s downhill in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria. She was doing her usual cardio, working through front squats, hip twists, and fork kicks. Pretty intense stuff to get race-ready. But everything changed in a flash. Instead of getting ready for her big skiing race, she’s now in the fight of her life after a devastating crash during training on 26th January.

That skier is Tereza Nova, and she’s only 26. It was a regular day of training on the challenging Kandahar course when disaster struck. One moment she was gliding down the slope, focused, and the next she was unconscious after the crash. Rushed to the hospital, doctors performed emergency brain surgery to reduce swelling. She was placed in a medically induced coma, with the medical team monitoring her closely.

As the days go by, the Czech Ski Federation has sent out messages of support, wishing her strength and a speedy recovery. The entire skiing community is heartbroken. The sport they love has shown its more dangerous side. And now everyone is waiting, hoping for a miracle and praying for her safe return to the slopes.

Tereza’s been racing at a high level for a while now, and it’s been impressive to watch. She competed in four events at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, with her best finish being 14th in the combined event, and she’s been a fixture in World Cup races since 2019. But this crash is just the latest in a string of scary accidents in the sport. Right before Tereza’s tumble at Garmisch, Nina Ortlieb the Austrian skier suffered a major injury during that same race; this incident drew considerable public attention. People increasingly worry about safety at high-speed events as experts recommend implementing safety enhancements.

Slopes on the Kandahar course are recognized for simultaneously being steep and fast which makes it one of the toughest race tracks. Tereza had previously finished 28th in Beijing’s Olympic downhill event yet shifted her focus to European Cup competitions. And her fans have been constantly praying for her.

Skiing fans rally around Tereza Nova after injury

One fan shared, “Prayers going out! We don’t realize how dangerous this sport can be,” while another added, “That’s so scary, hope she pulls through and gets better soon. Sending good vibes her way!” Since her World Cup debut in 2019, the 26-year-old Tereza Nova participated in 13 races, including a personal best finish of 39th during St. Moritz’s super-G. Nova participated in the 2022 Beijing Olympics while earning position 14 for the alpine combined and team competition. It’s hard to watch her put up this fight.

This injury emerges as the latest medical emergency after various dangerous incidents have affected skiing athletes. French skier Cyprien Sarrazin faced a catastrophic fall during downhill training at Bormio Italy until recently. Surgeons performed emergency surgery to treat his quickly deteriorating “acute intracranial hematoma” after the accident. After returning to France, the hospital shifted Sarrazin into their rehabilitation facility.

Fans have been pouring in their support for Tereza, with one person adding, “Sending strength and healing vibes,” while another expressed, “An unfortunate weekend for Czech women’s skiing in Ga-Pa. Tereza Nová injured her head in a fall during Friday’s downhill training.” A simple yet heartfelt message came from another fan who wrote, “Get well soon.” With all the love and support coming her way, we can only hope she makes a full recovery and gets back to doing what she loves soon.