U.S. skier Stacey Cook released from hospital after crash on training run

U.S. Alpine skier Stacey Cook was released early Thursday afternoon from the Whistler Polyclinic after a horrific crash in the first women's downhill training prior to Sunday's super combined medal event.

 "Stacey has been released from the Whistler Olympic Village Polyclinic and her prognosis is good," said U.S. Olympic Team Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jim Moeller. "She's undergone a complete evaluation by our medical team in Whistler and has received diagnostic X-rays and a CT scan, which all came back negative. We expect her to have some pain and stiffness over the next 24 to 48 hours, but provided she does well with treatment, we expect that she'll make a full recovery. We'll continue to evaluate her and work with the U.S. Ski Team to try and get her back competing as quickly as possible."

Cook landed on the back of her skis off the top jump while skiing in good visibility and crashed into the safety fencing. As a standard precaution and part of the normal protocol at Whistler Creekside, she was evacuated from the mountain by helicopter.

The training run had been scheduled for 9:30 a.m. but the start was delayed about 30 minutes due to fog and heavy snow. When it cleared around 10 a.m., officials started with Italian Lucia Recchia, who finished. Officials then held for about 20 to 25 minutes more after Cook's crash before canceling the training session due to heavy snow.

Cook will continue to be evaluated and hasn't been ruled out for Friday's training run, which is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. local time.

-- Houston Mitchell in Vancouver

Photo: Stacey Cook of the United States flgets helicopetered of f the course after crashing. Credit: Mirko Guarriello, EPA.