site.btaSnowboarder Zamfirova Returns to Bulgaria after Operations, Already Walks on Her Own

Bulgaria’s top snowboarder Malena Zamfirova is now back in Bulgaria and has begun active rehabilitation, the Bulgarian Ski Federation announced on Friday. Despite the severe injuries, Zamfirova is already moving independently and is even climbing stairs with the help of crutches.

The 16-year-old athlete was seriously injured in an incident on the slope in Spindlerev Mlyn (Czechia) on March 3. She subsequently underwent several operations on her thigh, pelvis and shoulder at a clinic in Graz, Austria.

She is being cared for by a team of physiotherapists led by Mihail Nenov. Her recovery is expected to continue until the autumn. However, her team has set the ambitious goal of Malena Zamfirova returning for the World Cup event in Cortina d’Ampezzo (Italy) in December.

“We thank all Bulgarians for the great empathy and tremendous support you have shown us during this difficult period,” the athlete’s family said.

Before this season, the snowboarder achieved two third-place finishes in the World Cup and was in the top 10 of the most prestigious competition a total of nine times. On her debut at the Winter Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina in February, Malena Zamfirova finished in tenth place. In the European Cup, she also recorded two victories.