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Juliane Frühwirt is determined to make a World Cup comeback after surviving a near-fatal skiing accident. The biathlete suffered a horrific fall in March, resulting in a tongue transplant, broken jaw, cheekbone, and lost teeth. While already facing challenges in her professional career, this ordeal has tested her resolve like never before.
“I want to establish myself in the World Cup. But it’s no longer a must,” the 26-year-old told dpa on Sunday. “What other people think or what other people expect of me no longer bother me so much. That’s a good feeling,” said Frühwirt in media reports.
The severity of Frühwirt’s injury became apparent when she realized she couldn’t call for help after removing the ski pole from her face. She was immediately airlifted to a clinic in Zams before being transferred to Innsbruck for life-saving surgery.
“I had the worst pain of my life during the operation. A piece of tongue was still stuck on the stick. My tongue was so swollen after the operation that my jaw joints were dislocated,” said Frühwirt, who won gold in the sprint at the 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games.
She faced a long road to recovery after her tongue transplant, including relearning essential functions like swallowing and drinking. “I looked like Quasimodo,” she said. Now only a small scar on her cheek is a reminder of the injury.
Just 100 days after her life-threatening accident, Juliane Frühwirt demonstrated incredible resilience by completing a 63-kilometer ultra-trail race in May. Her inspiring story has touched many, with countless messages of support and admiration pouring in.
“If I’ve helped just one person, it’s already paid off for me,” she said.
Juliana Frühwirt is a promising young athlete who has already made a significant mark on the sport. A gold medalist at the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics in the women’s 6 km (19685.04 feet) biathlon sprint, she has consistently competed at the international level. Sponsored by Viessmann, a leading German technology company, Frühwirt is poised to become a major force in biathlon
Produced in association with DPA
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