Ana Alonso Rodriguez of Spain is returning home with two Olympic bronze medals, an incredible achievement just four months after being struck by a car and sustaining a torn ACL.
Rodriguez earned her second medal Saturday in the new SkiMo mixed relay event, partnering with Oriol Cardona Coll. The pair had previously medaled in their individual sprint events on Thursday, with Rodriguez taking bronze and Coll securing gold.
Her comeback is particularly remarkable given she was hit by a car in October while training on her bicycle. The 31-year-old opted against surgery for her torn ACL and injured shoulder to maintain a chance at Olympic competition.
Rodriguez expressed immense pride in her decision not to undergo surgery, stating, "I made a very risky decision... and many people thought I was crazy, but in the end it wasn't so crazy." She added, "I think I've managed to find a strength that even I didn't know I had."