TITLE: U.S. Olympian Stacy Sykora Hurt in Bus Crash in Brazil
META: Stacy Sykora, a U.S. Olympic volleyball player from Burleson, sustained severe injuries in a bus crash while traveling to a match in Brazil.
EXCERPT: Stacy Sykora, a Burleson native and U.S. Olympic volleyball player, was injured in a bus crash in Brazil. She is in critical condition, and her mother is traveling to be by her side.
ALT: A bus involved in a crash on a rainy road near Sao Paulo, with emergency responders in the vicinity.
ARTICLE:
A bus transporting the Brazilian women's volleyball team crashed en route to a semifinal match, leaving U.S. Olympic volleyball player Stacy Sykora from Burleson injured. The incident occurred just outside Sao Paulo when the driver lost control due to rain.
Sykora, 33, experienced a severe head injury and was placed in a drug-induced coma to prevent movement, as reported by her mother, Sherian Richards. “She's on a ventilator now,” Richards shared, highlighting her daughter's critical condition. Sykora spent the night at a hospital following the wreck.
While most team members sustained minor injuries and were treated for cuts and bruises, Sykora had more serious wounds. She reportedly passed out after helping a photographer escape from the bus. “She gets this man out, and then she just falls over,” Richards said. “Now they say that her brain is swelling.”
Richards plans to fly to Brazil on Thursday to support her daughter. She revealed that Sykora has had a history of concussions, saying, “She's the queen of concussions.” Currently, Sykora is undergoing MRI scans every six hours.
The semifinal match was canceled following the crash. Richards described her daughter's resilience, noting that Sykora was bleeding from her head and jaw yet remained alert long enough to help others.
Richards expressed her hope for Sykora's recovery, stating she wants to be there when her daughter awakens. “She needs to have me hold her hand,” she said. “I'm going to kiss her on her face until she knows she's OK.”
USA Volleyball CEO Doug Beal expressed confidence in Sykora's ability to recover. “Stacy is an iconic member of our U.S. women's national volleyball team,” he said. U.S. coach Hugh McCutcheon echoed these sentiments, affirming that Sykora is receiving top-notch medical care.
The local community is assisting Richards with travel expenses, ensuring she can be with Sykora during this challenging time.