Top Austrian pole vaulter Kira Grunberg has been left paralysed after falling during a routine training jump.
The 21-year-old landed on her head and neck after losing control during the middle of her pole vault during training in Austria.
The accident left Grunberg's cervical vertebrae fractured, with surgeons at Innsbruck'sUniversity Clinic diagnosing her with paraplegia.
"After we had diagnosed paraplegia before the operation, the patient received emergency surgery in order to stabilise her spine and avoid further damage," the clinic said in a statement.
She was left in a critical but stable condition, and is now breathing on her own and could soon leave intensive care.
"The path awaiting Kira will be a long and difficult one," Grunberg's manager Thomas Herzog said.
Grunberg was aiming to compete in the World Championships in Beijing in August.
A promising prospect, she had earlier this year set the Austrian women's pole vault record of 4.45 metres at the outdoor European Championships in Zurich.
