Austrian pole-vaulter breaks spine in training

Innsbruck, Austria: The Austrian athletics federation says the pole-vaulter who needed surgery after a fall beside the mat is a paraplegic.

The federation says 21-year-old Kira Gruenberg broke her cervical spine while landing on her head and neck in a practice jump on Thursday.

The federation says “the patient had to undergo surgery immediately to stabilise the cervical spine and to avoid further damage.”

A prognosis could only be given after further medical checks at University Clinic in Innsbruck over the next few weeks, the federation adds.

Gruenberg is Austria’s leading pole-vaulter, who holds the national women’s record of 4.45 metres. She achieved the feat twice at the European Championships — outdoors in 2014 in Zurich and indoors in Prague in March.