Novalie Engholm's Hip Injury Derails Olympic Dreams and Season

Swedish snowboarding talent Novalie Engholm will miss the upcoming Winter Olympics and the entire competitive season due to a serious hip injury sustained during training in China. The 23-year-old suffered the injury ahead of the first World Cup event while preparing on the big air jump at Secret Garden. Adjusting her starting position to gain speed, Engholm encountered an unexpected tailwind that caused her to abort her rotation, resulting in a heavy crash.

Engholm had been focused intensively throughout the summer and fall to prepare for the season, including making her World Cup debut last season and becoming the first Swedish female snowboarder in 14 years to qualify for the World Championships in February. Her goal for the current season was to compete in the Olympics in Cortina, which now appears out of reach.

National team doctor Jacob Swanberg confirmed that Engholm will be unable to snowboard for several months, rendering her participation in February's Olympic Games unlikely. Engholm expressed her disappointment in a press release: “I have had a very clear focus to work towards all summer and fall and feel that I have given myself the conditions to reach this level, so it was very unfortunate that it would end with such a heavy crash.” She also noted uncertainty about the season's outlook, stating doctors' prognosis "doesn't sound very bright right now."

This injury is a significant blow for both Engholm and Swedish snowboarding, halting the progress of a promising athlete who had recently achieved historic milestones for the country in women's snowboarding. Recovery will take several months, and her absence will be felt throughout the season.

Currently, the focus is on her rehabilitation and determining a timeline for her return to competition, though the doctors' serious outlook indicates a lengthy recovery ahead.