Russian skicross racer has successful surgery
By Associated Press
Feb 15, 2014 9:34 AM CST
This undated photo provided by the Russian freestyle federation shows Russian skicross racer Maria Komissarova at an unknown location. Russian officials said Komissarova broke and dislocated her spine during an Olympic training accident at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia, Saturday,...   (Associated Press)

KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia (AP) — Russian officials say Olympic skicross racer Maria Komissarova has undergone a successful 6½-hour operation on her broken and dislocated spine following a training accident.

Russian freestyle ski federation spokesman Mikhail Verzeba says Komissarova fractured the 12th dorsal vertebrae in her lower-middle back and had emergency surgery Saturday.

Komissarova was brought to a hospital near the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park and the decision was made to operate there instead of transporting her down the mountain.

The 23-year-old Komissarova was practicing for next Friday's contest on a sunny morning on the 1,200-meter course, which has nine banked turns and 25 jumps.