Under 23 women's cross country champion Tanja Zakelj, 20, has returned to racing this spring despite a serious accident after the final World Cup race of the 2008 season last September. While at home helping with a project in Slovenia, she accidently had two of her fingers on her left cut off. A third one was also badly damaged.
She was immediately transported to the hospital by helicopter and had her fingers surgically reattached in a five-hour operation. Recovery was painfully slow with several complications, but with the help of her her coach and everyone around, she completed many long days of physiotherapy in time to resume an adjusted training program in February.
