Brazilian gymnast expected to compete in freestyle skiing at Sochi Olympics injured in US

SAO PAULO – The Brazilian Olympic Committee says the gymnast who was expected to compete in freestyle skiing at the Sochi Games was injured while training in the United States.

The committee said Tuesday that Lais Souza, who participated in the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics, underwent surgery at the University of Utah hospital after Monday’s accident in Salt Lake City.

Details on her condition were not immediately available. Brazilian media quoted Souza’s father as saying she sustained a back injury.

The committee said a Team Brasil doctor was already on his way to the U.S. to assess Souza.

The 25-year-old Souza missed the 2012 Olympics because of a hand injury.

She didn’t automatically qualify for Sochi but was still expected to earn a spot for the event.

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