Sven Kramer's (NED) preparations for the new Speed Skating season were hampered by a bike accident in Inzell in October. The reigning ISU European Allround Speed Skating Champion suffered a bone bruise in his right knee.
'Kramer was riding his bike when a car came out of an exit. The driver did not give priority to the multiple Olympic champion, so a collision was inevitable,' Kramer's team stated in a press release.
After the accident Kramer travelled to the Netherlands for a medical examination. He underwent an MRI and an x-ray, which showed that the cartilage, and the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his knee are intact.
Kramer was relieved after the examination. He said: "Given the impact of the accident, it could certainly have been worse. It is hard to say how long the rehabilitation process will take, but I will try to get back as early as possible."
Sven Kramer (NED) at the ISU European Speed Skating Championships 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)
Whether Kramer will be fit for the ISU World Cup Speed Skating Qualifying Tournament in Heerenveen from November 1st-3rd, is not clear yet.
Two weeks earlier Norway's Sverre Lunde Pedersen and Simen Spieler Nilsen also had a bike crash in Inzell. In their case no other vehicles were involved.
Pedersen got away with only bruises and already resumed training, but Nilsen suffered three fractures in the back. He's recovering in Norway and may miss the first World Cup events.
