Daniel Albrecht in stable condition

Swiss super-combined world champion Daniel Albrecht was in an artificial deep sleep on Thursday.

Switzerland'sDanielAlbrechtreceivesmedicaltreatmentafterhis
crashduringapracticefortheAlpineSkiingWorldCupdownhill
raceonStreifslopeinKitzbuehelJanuary22,2009.(Leonhard
Foeger/Reuters)

The skier crashed while training for Saturday's World Cup downhill in Kitzbuehel, injuring his brain and lungs.

Albrecht is being treated in the Innsbruck University Hospital. The intensive care unit said that "right now," the skier was "in a very stable condition." Unit head Norbert Mutz said he and his team were not "overly concerned." But that this was their report for this moment and not a prediction. Wolfgang Koller, the doctor treating Albrecht, also clarified that Albrecht's current condition was one of "an artificial deep sleep." Albrecht, winner of two giant slaloms this season, lost his balance on the last jump of the Streif piste. He lost consciousness after crashing out on Thursday.

Norbert Mutz, Head of intensive care unit, said, "We were able to put Mr. Albrecht into a condition which right now is very stable. This has a lot to do with the fact that the tension of a professional athlete's body during a crash is completely different from the one of a recreational athlete. We therefore have enough reason to be somewhat optimistic although I don't want to denounce anything." "For the moment, his condition is stable. We are not overly concerned at this moment. But this is a report for this moment and not a prediction."