Belle Brockhoff, a 32-year-old triple Winter Olympian from Victoria, Australia, was airlifted to a hospital in Tbilisi, Georgia, after a snowboard crash fractured her L1 vertebrae.
She was then evacuated to Greece for surgery. The accident occurred less than a year before the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, shortly after her return to competition following a broken wrist recovery. Landing on her coccyx, Brockhoff sustained no neurological damage and remains in good spirits.
A medical team member from the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia is with her in Greece, joined by her partner, who flew in for support.
Geoff Lipshut, the institute’s chief executive, stated, “Our medical team is collaborating with Greek emergency services and hospital staff to ensure Belle gets top care. Post-surgery, we’ll reassess her options within 48 hours.” After the procedure, Brockhoff is expected to rehabilitate in Athens for up to two weeks before returning to Australia to prepare for the upcoming Olympics.