This follows Russian ski cross athlete Maria Komissarova sustaining a broken and dislocated spine in an accident yesterday which left her requiring a six-and-a-half hour operation. 

Cheshire's injury is far less serious and she is only staying at hospital overnight as a precaution.

The 18-year-old from Stoke, ranked seventh in the World Cup standings, fell heavily on her face coming off the left wall of the course and, after remaining unconscious for several minutes, was stretchered to a nearby medical tent before being transferred to hospital.

"Team GB halfpipe skier Rowan Cheshire fell during halfpipe training this evening," British Olympic Association (BOA) spokesman Darryl Seibel confirmed in a statement. 

"She was attended to by the medical team at the halfpipe then taken to the polyclinic in the Mountain Village for further assessment.

"After examination by Team GB medical personnel it is confirmed that she has concussion and, as a precaution, will stay at a local hospital overnight for further evaluation.

"She will be evaluated further during the coming days before a determination is made about her fitness to compete."

Cheshire's injury was thankfully less serious than that suffered by Maria Komissarova yesterday...the Russian was visited by President Vladimir Putin this morning
©Kremlin


Cheshire's injury came at the end of a day in which crashes littered the women's snowboard cross competition, with Norway's Helene Olafsen and American Jacqueline Hernandez stretchered off the course after accidents in qualification.

Swiss aerials skier Christopher Lambert was  taken to hospital after suffering a suspected dislocated elbow in a heavy fall during training.

Last week a bobsleigh track worker also broke both his legs when hit by a non-competition bobsled.

The most serious injury by far, however, was the one suffered by Komissarova yesterday.

The Russia was awake, but described as in a "grave but stable" condition when visited by Putin this morning and has since been airlifted to Munich where it is expected she will have a further operation.

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