Canada's bobsleigh athletes that were involved in a serious crash last week during four-man training in Altenberg Germany, have been released from hospitals in Germany and have either flown home or are scheduled to do so.
The sled's pilot Chris Spring, 27 of Calgary, hit the roof after a late entry into corner 16. The sleigh, travelling at an estimated 120 kilometres an hour, also smashed the rollover barricade on the exit of corner 16. Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton officials said the force and speed at which the sled was travelling and the abrupt stop encountered, resulted in axels being torn off, debris coming through the bottom of the sleigh and injuries to three of the four members of the team.
"Getting the athletes discharged from hospital, and reuniting them at home with team doctors and family members is a major step forward in the long road back to their recovery," said Don Wilson, chief executive officer, Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton.
"These are world-class athletes, and we are very proud of how each one of them have handled this very difficult situation."
He said BCS support staff will continue concentrating on their immediate health.
Spring suffered a broken nose, lacerations and bruising in the crash. He was discharged from Dresden University Hospital on Thursday and will reconnect with the team in Konigssee, Germany, Friday evening before returning to Calgary on Sunday.
Bill Thomas, 26, was released from Dresden Friedrichstadt Hospital last Sunday and returned to Toronto on Thursday. He has been cleared of major back injury, which was originally suspected, but is recovering from various bruised lungs and minor trauma.
Graeme Rinholm, 26, was released from the local Pirna Hospital on Wednesday and was resting comfortably in his hotel until returning to Calgary on Thursday. Rinholm suffered a broken fibula, lacerations to his upper legs, buttocks and underlying musculature.
Toronto's Tim Randall, 25, sustained minor injuries, but was not seriously hurt in the incident. Randall returned to Calgary with Derek Plug, who was not in the sled during the incident, on Wednesday.
Other members of Canada's bobsleigh and skeleton squads will compete in the World Cup in Konigssee, Germany, January 13-15, 2012.