Ice Hockey: Finnish player Sanni Hakala paralysed after head-first collision
- Published
As well as bronze medals at the PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, Hakala won a silver and two bronzes at the World Championships
Finnish ice hockey player Sanni Hakala has been paralysed from the chest down after falling and crashing into a goalpost head-first during a match.
The 26-year-old suffered severe neck injuries while playing for Swedish club HV71 on 24 November.
Hakala helped Finland to bronze medals at the 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympics.
She posted on Instagram on Thursday: "I understand that I am now facing a long and hard fight with my body and the toughest game of my life."
The two-time Olympic medallist said she has reduced function in her arms and hands but that she may have to use a wheelchair for the rest of her life.
"It is still hard to understand what has happened, that the crash into the goalpost was as serious as it was, that the consequences have become so big," she said.
"Not only that I am forced to stop playing hockey, something that has been a big part of my life for many years, but that I may be forced to sit in a wheelchair for the rest of my life.
"This situation obviously sucks but I'm not scared to take it on."
Hakala's injury comes after a man was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter last month following the death of ice hockey player Adam Johnson.
The American player suffered a serious cut to the neck from a skate while playing for his team, the Nottingham Panthers, against the Sheffield Steelers on 28 October.