Sarah Burke Lost the Battle, but She Has the World Talking

Sarah Burke is a freestyle ski star who recently suffered a devastating injury. The critical injury occurred when she was practicing in Utah, gearing up for the X Games, where she was favored to score a title.

"A day after the accident, doctors said they repaired a tear to an artery that caused bleeding on her brain. They said she tore a vertebral artery, which is located in the neck and supplies blood to the brainstem and the back part of the brain. Those parts control many critical functions, including balance and vision," reports the Vancouver Sun.

Burke's injury resulted in bleeding in her skull. Her vertebral artery was fixed via surgery. She was listed to be in critical condition following her surgery. Unfortunately, nine days later on Jan. 19, 2012, Sarah Burke passed away.

Her injuries were too severe to recover from. A statement released by Burke's publicist, Nicole Wool, stated that the tests revealed that Burke sustained "irreversible damage to her brain due to lack of oxygen and blood after cardiac arrest."

Many feel that halfpipe sports are simply getting too dangerous. Snowboarder Kevin Pearce suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2009, and the accident that was responsible was nearly fatal. It took him 712 days to get back on a board, but he says he will never compete again due to how dangerous the sport has become.

Gretchen Bleiler, superstar snowboarder, also agrees that the sport has just become too dangerous. In reaction to Burke's injury, she wrote a piece on ESPN Women discussing her thoughts about the accident and the direction of the sport in general. She discussed the great risks these athletes take every time they hit the pipe.

Right now, Burke may have lost this battle, but she has made a significant positive impact. Not only is she a pioneer in freestyle skiing, but she also has athletes thinking about safety. The community is reaching out in support. Fellow athletes are thinking about the risks and safety associated with what they do.

Burke has the world talking, as she always has.

R. Elizabeth C. Kitchen is a former competitive athlete, current coach and has an educational background in health, fitness and medicine. When she isn't catching up on the latest games or writing about the latest news, she can be found on the court or field improving her own game. Follow Rose on Twitter @Rose_Kitchen.