Elena Berezhnaya Survives Near-Fatal Figure Skating Accident
On January 9, 1996, Russian figure skater Elena Berezhnaya suffered a life-threatening injury during a practice session in Riga, Latvia. While training with her partner at the time, Oleg Shliakhov, a skate blade accidentally pierced her skull, causing severe brain trauma.
The accident left Berezhnaya temporarily paralyzed on her right side and unable to speak, marking a critical moment in her life and career. Despite the severity of her injuries, she eventually made a remarkable recovery, later returning to competitive figure skating and achieving international success.
The incident remains one of the most harrowing accidents in figure skating history, highlighting both the risks of the sport and Berezhnaya’s extraordinary resilience.