Sarah Burke Press Conference Canceled Abruptly By Family

Members of the press gathered this evening at the University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City for a briefing on Sarah Burke’s condition. The scheduled press conference was cancelled, however, and the family released a statement saying that Burke’s condition would be updated in the next few days.

The statement said that Burke’s husband and fellow skier, Rory Bushfield, as well as other family members, had met with physicians on Sunday night “to discuss the results of Sarah’s most recent neurological tests and assessments. Based on the information they received, we regret to inform you that they have decided to cancel today’s press conference in order for further tests to be conducted this morning and in the coming days.”

Sarah Burke suffered a traumatic brain injury last Tuesday during a halfpipe practice at Park City Mountain Resort. Burke underwent surgery on Wednesday and on Friday doctors said that the Olympic skier was still in critical condition.

Peter Judge, chief executive of the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association, said that Burke was not attempting a new or dangerous trick at the time of her accident. Judge said:

“We’re a bit shell-shocked right now… From what we heard it didn’t look like it was that kind of severe a fall, but obviously she must have just hit in the right way.”

Burke, who is considered one of the world’s best halfpipe skiers, was a favorite for the 2014 Winter Olympic games when the freestyle half-pipe makes its debut.

Here’s a video of Sarah Burke from the XGames.