Bryon Friedman injured in Chamonix training run
by Nathaniel Vinton, Jan 5th, 2005
Bryon Friedman fell in the first training run of the World Cup downhill at Chamonix today, breaking his leg and ending a promising season. The 24-year-old American was flown by helicopter to a hospital nearby Sallanches, France, where doctors found fractures to his right tibia and fibula, and broken bones in his left hand. He underwent surgery immediately.
"He crashed right next to where I was standing," said John McBride, head men's speed coach for the U.S. Ski Team, in a conversation with the Associated Press. "He'd cut up his face a bit but he was conscious. There was no head injury. He was in a fair amount of pain. It's a real beating for us sure."
Chamonix is hosting the prestigious Kandahar race this weekend, a downhill and slalom on Saturday and Sunday. The downhill on the shoulder of Mont Blanc is special for Friedman, who scored his first World Cup top-10 result there one year ago.
Friedman, running 29th, lost control on the course and hit the netting. Organizers stopped the training run for more than 20 minutes to evacuate him -- by toboggan, and then helicopter -- before resuming the run.
Friedman’s injury a bad one…
Bryon Friedman, who badly injured his leg Thursday , is still in the hospital in Sallanches, France (home of the Dynastar factory). After his crash, he suffered from compartmental syndrome. The broken bones in his lower leg were jolted as he tumbled down the hill, which led to major swelling. Doctors had to make incisions on both sides of his shin to relieve the pressure.(Jan 7th, 2005)
In other crash-related news, Bryon Friedman was released from the intensive care unit of the hospital in Sallanches, France, where he is recovering from a bad fall in Thursday's training run. (Jan 8th, 2005)