BMX Olympian in coma after crash

Dutch BMX star Jelle van Gorkom, who won a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, was in a coma on Wednesday following a crash that left him with a damaged skull, officials said.

The 27-year-old (below) was hurt after an accident in training at the National Sports Center at Papendal near Arnhem in the east of the country.

“After the accident, Jelle van Gorkom was taken to hospital. He has broken ribs, a fracture to the face, a tear in the skull damage to the liver, spleen and kidneys. He is being kept in a coma at the moment,” said a statement on the Royal Dutch Cycling Union website.

Jochem Schellens, the director of the Papendal sports center, described the accident as “terrible”.