Dani King leaves hospital 11 days after suffering five broken ribs and a collapsed lung during a training session crash 

  • King crashed during training in South Wales last Thursday
  • The three-time world team pursuit champion says 'the smile is back'
  • She has been treated for five broken ribs and a collapsed lung 

Olympic cycling champion Dani King, 23, has left hospital in Merthyr Tydfil after 11 days recovering from a training session crash in which she suffered five broken ribs and a collapsed lung. 

King, part of Great Britain’s all-conquering women’s pursuit team who also won gold at the London 2012 Olympics, crashed during training in South Wales almost a fortnight ago.

Despite her discomfort, King seemed upbeat, tweeting from her sickbed with pictures of herself showing cuts and grazes to her knees and elbows.

King spent 11 days in hospital after breaking five ribs and a collapsed lung

Dani King has left hospital in Merthyr Tydfil 11 days after suffering broken ribs and a collapsed lung 

King, part of Great Britain’s women’s pursuit team, crashed during training in South Wales 

King, part of Great Britain’s women’s pursuit team, crashed during training in South Wales 

She later added that the nurses in the NHS hospital where she was being treated were ‘gems’ and deserved ‘much more recognition’. 


Her team-mates sent messages of support as they prepared for the first round of the Track World Cup in Guadalajara, Mexico.

‘Thank you all so much for the kind messages,’ she replied. ‘They’re really helping - I’m sending massive good luck from my bed to the GB team tonight.’

After three nights in hospital, King was out of bed as friend Hannah Rich visited on Sunday to apply nail varnish with the injured cyclist saying: ‘Still gotta look my best’.

Great Britain's  King celebrates after winning with team-mates the gold medal and setting a new world record

Great Britain's King celebrates after winning with team-mates the gold medal and setting a new world record

Olympic cycling champion King (centre) holds her medal alongside Georgia May Jagger and Ronnie Wood

Olympic cycling champion King (centre) holds her medal alongside Georgia May Jagger and Ronnie Wood

Dani King leaves hospital 11 days after suffering five broken ribs and a collapsed lung during a training session crash 

No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.