Olympia 2018: Snowboarder Schairer should be able to continue his career

Snowboard-crosser Markus Schairer will probably be able to continue his career after the successful spinal surgery at the Feldkirch hospital “We assume that Markus will be able to achieve his sport and competition ability again”, the attending physicians explained at a press conference on Friday. He left it open whether the fairer will return to the race tracks.

The 30-year-old cross-athlete broke his fifth cervical vertebra at the Olympic Games in Pyeongchang on Thursday last week in a fall. An elbow injury was also found. On Saturday the flight home, on Monday the operation took place.

The good-humoured top athlete expressed his satisfaction and gratitude for the operation “that things went well”. Schairer said that he had no pain and was also in good mental health. It remains to be seen whether he – although medically possible – will enter the competition sport again on Friday:”It is far too early to make a decision now,”said Schairer. He will approach rehabilitation – the healing time of his injury is about three months – with the aim of returning to top-class sport:”This is the easiest way to get fit again”.