There have been some horrific moments at these Olympics.
One of them belonged to BMX rider Connor Fields - now there is at least some small progress.
Tokyo - Without a doubt, sports fans around the world held their breath at this scene.
What happened?
BMX rider Connor Fields fought for a place in the final at the Olympic Games in Tokyo *.
The gold medal winner from Rio de Janeiro got off well and was in a promising second place.
But then it came to a horror fall in the third semifinal run in the Ariake Urban Sports Park: The 28-year-old hit the rear wheel of the person in front, lost control of his bike and fell badly.
The American hit his head on the road at high speed.
Olympia: Terrible BMX accident - Connor Fields meanwhile released from hospital
The Frenchman Sylvain André and Twan van Gendt from the Netherlands could no longer avoid it.
They crashed into Fields.
Then he was lying on the racetrack for minutes before he was transported away on a stretcher.
BMX racing is brutal.
Hope Connor Fields is alright 🙏 pic.twitter.com/QZCkvuk2eW
- djspice (@ officialspicyj2) July 30, 2021
The BMX star suffered a cerebral hemorrhage, spent one night in intensive care and had to stay at St. Luke's International Hospital in Tokyo * for further observation.
The accident happened last Friday, July 30th.
Now, less than a week later, there is at least one positive development: Fields has been discharged from the hospital.
Connor Fields: Rio Olympic champion returns to the USA
"I'm back," tweeted the American on Thursday morning (CEST).
His bitter message: "At the moment I can only stand for five to ten minutes." Nevertheless, he does not lose heart: "We are working on it."
The US federation announced that Fields will return home after his head injury and begin his rehab there. The American's accident was not the only terrible moment of injury: a gold favorite had to leave the athletics stadium in a wheelchair, as did a decathlete. And for the German medal hope Niklas Kaul, the games ended early.
(akl / dpa / sid) * tz.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA