Thomas Worthington sophomore Adeline Albert severely injured in luge training accident
It didn’t take long for Renee Albert to sense the passion her daughter, Adeline, had developed for the luge.
Adeline, 15, was introduced to the winter racing sport in 2017 during a local search for participants by USA Luge.
Since being named to the national training youth program in May 2019, the Thomas Worthington sophomore has traveled the world to hone her skills. But her participation has been put on hold after she was injured in a training accident in Seoul, South Korea, last Tuesday.
After a brief conversation at the scene with emergency medical personnel, Adeline lost consciousness, according to Renee. She was transported to a hospital in Pyeongchang, where she underwent a three-hour surgery for a traumatic brain injury, her mother said.
“The surgeon wasn’t expecting her to wake up for about a week, and then she woke up (a day after the surgery),” Renee said. “She regained consciousness, which is amazing. She has surprised her surgeon and the doctors. It’s a miracle that she is responding so well right now. We’re taking positive baby steps. She’s an amazing kid.”
Adeline was training with her two-man partner, Maggie Richardson, at the time of the accident. Richardson, who is from Mount Vernon, was unhurt.
Renee said her daughter has been moved from intensive care to a recovery unit. She will require another surgery within the next few days to replace the piece of skull that was removed during the first surgery.
“They removed a part of skull on the right side of her head and now we just pray a lot and wait for those baby steps, which are all really good, but we have to hope there’s no infection and no rising temperatures,” Renee said.
Adeline’s father, Rob, took a 14-hour flight Wednesday to South Korea, which is 14 hours ahead of Columbus. He was en route to the hospital by car when he received word by phone that Adeline had awoken a day after the surgery, Renee said.
Doctors told the family that Adeline’s prognosis is promising, but she faces a long recovery. Renee said Adeline is eating and interacting with people but shows signs of confusion, which doctors said is normal.
The United States and South Korea luge associations, along with Google Translate, helped the family communicate with medical personnel.
Renee and Adeline’s fraternal twin, Avah, have remained in Columbus but are monitoring the situation and might make the trip to South Korea. Renee said she’s grateful for the support and well wishes the family has received.
“There’s prayer warriors all over the world literally praying for this girl to come back and she keeps asking, ‘When can I slide again,’ ” Renee said. “She asked her coach, ‘When can I slide again.’ She was expecting to slide (by the) weekend, but at that point, she didn’t understand fully the severity of what we’re dealing with, the traumatic head injury.”
According to the official Olympics website, lugers can average speeds between 74 and 90 mph as they ride a flat sled through a course face up and feet first. Renee said her daughter has aspirations of qualifying for the 2030 Olympics.
“If everything goes well, we pray that is still obtainable, if that’s what she still wants to do,” Renee said.
Adeline’s schedule since last year also has included trips to Austria; Latvia; Utah; Canada and Lake Placid, New York, the site of the United States Luge Association training facility.
She played junior varsity field hockey at Thomas the last two seasons.
“The two things that make Addie the happiest are playing field hockey and sliding on the track,” Renee said. “She calls the Olympic training center in Lake Placid her second home.”
Thomas field hockey coach Terri Simonetti Frost was informed of the accident while the team was heading to the Statehouse on Wednesday to be recognized for winning the state championship last fall. It was the program’s sixth title under Simonetti Frost and seventh overall.
“Addie had to miss some field hockey in the preseason to go to luge training,” Simonetti Frost said. “I know that is her happy place and she absolutely loves it. I’m super supportive of her going and doing this because you never want to say no to a kid who aspires to be more than just a field hockey player.
“She wants to lead and be part of the Olympics. It’s such an opportunity for her. I know how much she loves it and it’s very sad that she was in this accident and what the future holds. I pray that she can continue to do what she loves.”
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Thomas Worthington student severely injured in luge accident
