Cycling: Olympic track cycling champion Vogel says: “Tears are no use now”.

At the end of last week it became known that Kristina Vogel was paraplegic after a severe training crash in June. Now the track bike Olympic champion spoke at a press conference about her state of health, life in a wheelchair and her feelings.

For the first time since her tragic accident on 26 June at the Cottbus racing stadium, where Vogel collided with a Dutch junior rider, the 2016 Olympic track bike champion presented herself to the public. SPOX summarizes the most important statements from the press conference at the Trauma Hospital Berlin-Marzahn.

Kristina Vogel about …

… the course of the accident: “The accident itself is not right. I’m glad I don’t know how it happened. Nevertheless, of course I want to be informed about it, that is important to me. I haven’t had any contact with the driver yet. He hasn’t called in yet. Nor do I face the question of guilt. I don’t blame anyone, others blame me.”

… about the effects of the accident: “This is, of course, a blatant turning point in our lives. I feel like a little baby who needs to learn everything right now. But now I want to communicate again, to pass on my positive energy. This is a task I have to take on now.”

… about the acceptance of their fate: “It is now as it is. Of course, if I could decide, I wouldn’t choose fate. But now it’s here. And I accept that. The sooner I accept that, the sooner I can act again. That’ll help.”

… her return home: “This weekend I will come back to Erfurt for the first time. I am very happy to be back in my own bed after three months and to cook for myself. To be alone again with my life partner, with my family. “I want to go back to life, that’s very important.”

… the support of her family:”[My partner] slept the first nights on the chair next door. I have a creepy hold. I can count on him to be there for me no matter what. I’ve never been alone. My friends also sat by my bed for hours. That was incredible.”

… emotionally difficult moments: “Tears are no use now. I must be called upon now. Cause that’s the only way I’m getting anywhere. I’ve never been someone who cried a lot. That’s me. That describes me. I’m on two wheels now just like on four wheels. I want to show people that this hasn’t changed – no matter what happened. I want to be independent. I want to learn how to go down the stairs in a wheelchair. “The fight back to life is harder than the fight for the gold medal.”

… the hope of ever being able to walk again: “I know I will never be able to walk independently again. Maybe science will give something away sometime. But I won’t be able to walk. That’s a fact.”