Reigning Olympic luge silver medalist Chris Mazdzer of the United States said on Thursday he broke his right foot during preseason training and would need time before come up with a new plan to prepare for the Beijing Games this winter.
Mazdzer was injured on the 2014 Olympic track in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia, where some members of the US national luge team had gathered to begin ice work for the season. Mazdzer did not crash but said his foot struck a piece of ice while traveling at around 75 mph.
“I knew right away that something was wrong since I couldn’t put any pressure on my foot, and the imagery confirmed that I broke my foot in a few places,” Mazdzer said Thursday. “After investing physically, mentally and financially for this Olympic year, the game plan changed in just seconds.”
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It is the last blow for the American sliding programs before the Olympic season.
Reigning bobsleigh world champion Kaillie Humphries – who is reportedly the favorite for two gold medals in Beijing – is still unsure whether she will be allowed to compete in the Olympics as she is not yet a US citizen. She is entering her third season with the United States national team, but will need a U.S. passport or special permission from the International Olympic Committee to represent the Americans in Beijing.
Some members of the US bobsleigh and skeleton teams leave for China on Friday for several weeks of practice and test competitions on the newly built track for the Beijing Games. Most of the sliders around the world haven’t seen this setup yet.
USA Luge, meanwhile, is due to travel to China later this fall and has chosen to start training in Russia. Now Mazdzer is heading home, as is his doubles partner Jayson Terdiman. Mazdzer is the only luge athlete at World Cup level to have competed both in singles – the discipline where he won silver at the Pyeongchang 2018 Games – and in doubles in recent years.
“Now it’s time to head back to the United States to assess what needs to happen in order to get back on the sled as soon as possible,” Mazdzer said.
It is not uncommon for luge athletes to compete with a broken foot. Former USA Luge Women’s Slider Kate Hansen broke her foot at the start of the 2014 Olympic season, then qualified and competed in the Sochi Games and finished 10th.
“Over the past three years we have overcome a lot of injuries and always come back stronger,” said Terdiman. “I think this case will be no different. Chris and I are both mentally strong and we know how to overcome anything. … None of us were deterred from the final goal, putting Team USA on the podium in Beijing. “
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