Rio Olympics: Melissa Hoskins recovering after training crash

INJURED Olympic track cyclist Melissa Hoskins is on crutches after a high-speed crash in the Rio Velodrome yesterday.

Hoskins (25) of Lesmurdie was rushed to hospital in pain and later released with no serious injuries.

A team doctor said Hoskins suffered a ‘pretty nasty fall’, with bruising to her right hip.

Despite the injury, the second-time Olympian has not been written off from competitions.

Her recovery will be closely monitored night and day up to the first qualifier on Thursday.

Hoskins said she was conscious throughout the accident.

“I remember the whole thing, to be honest it’s one of those things,” she said outside hospital.

“It’s what we do, it could happen to anyone and just unfortunate it happened four days out of one of these competitions.”

She said she would review the situation on a day-by-day basis.

“It’s a shame, but we put ourselves on the line every day, four girls going strong.

“We’re Aussies, we’re not going to back down anytime soon,” she said.

“I’ve got four days till qualifying and then a day off before the semis and finals on Saturday.

“The girls are in fantastic form; we’ll get on with the job.”

Hoskins said she was grateful teammates were not seriously injured and she did not know how the crash happened.

“Crashing at those speeds, it’s never good,” she said.

The team pursuit cyclist was riding with Ashlee Ankudinoff, Georgia Baker, Amy Cure and Annette Edmondson when four of the five riders came off their bikes coming into a bend before the home straight.

Ankudinoff, Baker and Cure suffered track burns and splinters.

Shortly before the training session, Hoskins was in top form and told the Gazette: “So far so good”.

Hoskins, Ankudinoff, Cure and Edmondson broke the world record for the 4000m event at the world championships in France last year.

Earlier this year, Hoskins contracted pneumonia and missed the world championships in March.