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Heidi Kloser Badly Injured In Moguls Warm-Up, Walks Opening Ceremony In Crutches

By Patricia Didelot
Published on: 02:46 PST, Feb 8, 2014

Heidi Kloser walked into the Opening Ceremony at the Sochi Winter Games using crutches, even though her dream of winning a medal for the US was crushed on the Russian mountain.

Kloser — the number two ranked American in moguls skiing — suffered a horrific crash on the first day, during what was supposed to be a warm-up round to get more familiar with the course.

First responders stationed at the course immediately went to Heidi Kloser’s aid and she was taken to the Olympic village for further evaluation of her condition.

US Olympic doctors William Sterrett and Tom Hackett, said the 21-year-old from Vail, Colorado completely tore the ACL in her right knee. She also suffered a partially torn MCL, a bruised tibial plateau, and a small fracture of her femur.

Heidi’s horrified and worried parents, Mike and Emily Kloser had to fight their way through security to be able to be by their daughter’s side in the ambulance.

Mike said on his Facebook page that Heidi Kloser asked whether she was still an Olympian, to which he replied “Of course you are an Olympian.”

Heidi Kloser is not only the second ranked American in moguls skiing, she is the number four in the world for her sport and was considered to be a strong medal contender for Team USA.

At the time of the accident her dad said:

“She’s completely bummed, as we are. She was really hoping, all things considered, to at least be able to start in Saturday’s final qualifier.”

While that dream is all but dead at this time, Heidi Kloser was determined to walk with the United States delegation during the Opening Ceremony. And she did.

Viewers couldn’t help but notice the limping athlete, within the sea of knitted sweaters the Americans wore for the occasion, with the help of a teammate pushing her wheelchair, Heidi Kloser made her wish a reality.

Taking to Twitter, Heidi Kloser shared her excitement before the ceremony started, showing her on the bus with a very large ice bag on top of her injured leg.

And after the ceremony the moguls skier shared this photo on Instagram:

Even though Heidi Kloser’s injury is devastating, she made the best of her situation, inspiring millions with her determination and walked with her teammates in the Olympics Opening Ceremony at Sochi.

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