Veteran off to hospital following nasty fall
VETERAN Australian road cyclist Carol Cooke was taken to hospital after a heavy crash in treacherous, rainy conditions in Tokyo on Thursday.
Team officials said the 60year-old had “lost a lot of skin” and had been taken to hospital for X-rays and scans for possible broken ribs after a nasty fall during the T1-2 road race.
Officials said Cooke was in good spirits and “wants everyone to know she’s OK”, despite being unable to complete the race at Fuji International Speedway, about 100km outside Tokyo.
Dr Geoff Thompson said they were not taking any chances so had sent her to hospital.
“I’ve just examined Carol,” Dr Thompson said. “I did see the accident on television, so I have a good understanding and I’ve examined her.
“There’s no head injury of any significance at all. I’m concerned about her injury to the back of her upper left-sided chest, and I’m sending her to hospital to have CAT scans and X-rays to make sure she hasn’t got fractures of her ribs.
“She also had a direct blow to her right lower shin, and we’ll X-ray those at the same time. I’ll see those as soon as they are taken and then we’ll know what to do next.”
Already a legend in the sport, Cooke won a silver medal in the time-trial in Japan on Tuesday to become the second-oldest Australian woman in any sport to win a Paralympic medal.
Cooke, who has multiple sclerosis and rides a modified tricycle that has more stability than a two-wheeled bike, had already won three gold medals at her previous Paralympic performances.