Ester Ledecká, an Olympic champion, encountered significant challenges during the women’s super-G at the Olympics when she sustained an injury just moments before she was set to compete. Despite experiencing severe back pain, Ledecká had bravely decided to participate in the event. She described the unfortunate incident occurring during warm-up, just before she was due to change her clothes and head to the start line, highlighting the tight window of 40 minutes the team had to evaluate her condition and consider options for her participation.

Medical professionals were summoned to assess Ledecká, but they expressed grave uncertainty regarding her fitness to compete. Team doctor Vladislav Hospodár recounted that after examining her, he firmly advised against competing, leading to discussions about alternatives. Despite this the team managed to administer pain relief, which Ledecká felt was essential in allowing her to make it to the starting line, suggesting that the adrenaline helped her push through the pain momentarily.

Ultimately, Ledecká's descent was fraught with difficulty, as she was forced to exit the course just before the final part despite reaching speeds of nearly 105 kilometers per hour. This incident has raised concerns over athlete safety and health management in high-stakes competitions such as the Olympics, where physical prowess is paramount but comes with inherent risks, and the repercussions of competing while injured are grave and could impact future performances.