“Thought they had to amputate the leg”
Swedish speed driver experiences horror after knee surgery
Lisa Hörnblad is considered a Swedish speed talent. She hasn’t made her breakthrough yet – injuries keep slowing her down. Now she had to worry about her leg.
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Lisa Hörnblad is not in the mood to laugh at the moment.
In the second half of the 2017/18 season, Lisa Hörnblad (26) experienced the most successful months of her career. In the European Cup, the Swedish speed specialist climbs onto the podium six times within two months – four times in Super-G and once each in downhill and in combination, celebrating two victories.
The talent is there, but she hasn’t made her breakthrough in the World Cup yet. Her best result: 11th place in the downhill. Since her debut in 2017, she has contested only 32 World Cup races. Injuries keep slowing her down. After a cruciate ligament rupture in August 2019, she has been away from the World Cup stage for almost two and a half years. Shortly after her comeback, she falls heavily in January 2022: total damage to the knee. Returning to the snow this fall, here’s another setback.
Sudden pain at the airport
«Hello, sixth day in the hospital. Terrible and scary week with two surgeries and pain that I have never experienced, »she writes on a photo that shows her in the hospital bed. “I am now stable and doing well, but I have to stay for further treatments.”
What happened? Her knee was much better, says Hörnblad. But then everything changed in a second. On the way to a ski camp, while checking in at the airport, out of nowhere she got severe pain in her knee. She became nauseous, developed a high fever and could no longer move her leg.
“The worst experience I’ve ever had in my life.”Lisa Hörnblad, Swedish skier
The diagnosis: blood poisoning and therefore danger to life. The trigger: a small operation at the beginning of December, during which the knee was cleaned.
Hörnblad told the Swedish broadcaster svt.se: “I thought the doctors would have to amputate my leg. It felt like it was going to explode.” Fortunately, this could be prevented by emergency surgery. «The pain before the operation was the worst experience I have ever had in my life. It was awful and scary.”
“The fight goes on”
Hörnblad is now grateful that she no longer has this pain. Nevertheless, she has to stay in the hospital for a check-up. There she has time to process the crazy last few days. Giving up is not an option: “The fight goes on.”
For the time being, she has only one wish: “I really hope that I can go home before Christmas.” With this story, she would have deserved it if that wish came true. (bir)
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Attention ski fans! Now quiz and type races
The 2022/2023 ski season is coming up and with it the “Blick Ski Trophy”: answer questions every day, type ski races and crown yourself as ski champion. Lots of great prizes await.
To take part in the “Blick Ski Trophy”, you have to register here.
Have fun and good luck!
The 2022/2023 ski season is coming up and with it the “Blick Ski Trophy”: answer questions every day, type ski races and crown yourself as ski champion. Lots of great prizes await.
To take part in the “Blick Ski Trophy”, you have to register here.
Have fun and good luck!