Eva Twardokens in ICU Following Plane Crash in California
1985 World Championship women’s giant slalom bronze medalist, Eva Twardokens, was seriously injured when a small, two-seat plane carrying her and a passenger crashed at the Monterey Bay Academy Airport on February 9, in Watsonville, California.
According to the FAA, the aircraft was registered to Twardokens and an investigation of the crash is underway.
Twardokens remains in critical condition.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Eva,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard CEO, Tiger Shaw, in a statement from the organization. “She was an extraordinary ski racer and we know her strength will help her through this.”
After her ski racing career ended, Twardokens gained notoriety as one of the early adopters of CrossFit workouts and has a workout named after her, called “Eva.” Members of the CrossFit community came together on Saturday to perform the benchmark workout in support of her recovery.
A GoFundMe account named Team Eva T has been organized by friend and owner of CrossFit Santa Cruz Central, Annie Kimiko Sakamoto. The fund will assist with the expenses related to her recovery and has raised over $51,000 since it was created on February 12.
“She’s a passionate athlete and friend,” Sakamoto said. “She really loves life.”
In addition to her World Championship bronze medal, Twardokens was a two-time Olympian in 1992 and 1994, stood on three World Cup podiums in her career with the U.S. Ski Team, and is an inductee to the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame.
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