Cherjazova, 25, also a world champion in freestyle aerials, hit the back of her head Wednesday afternoon on a water jump at the Olympic Ski Jumping Complex and fell into the pool at the end of the run, according to officials of the Olympic Regional Development Authority, which operates the facility.
Cherjazova apparently had trouble initiating her maneuver and became unstable after taking off. She was wearing a helmet and a lifejacket, but was unconscious when she hit the water, ORDA officials said. The accident was not the first tragedy for the skier, whose mother died just before she won the gold.
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