Devastating update from Olympian Sanni Hakala today

In case you missed the news this past weekend, two time Olympic medalist Sanni Hakala was seriously injured in a game during the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL).

Hakala, the captain of HV71 was driving to the net against Djurgarden and ended up losing her balance and crashing head first into the opposing team's goal post. She laid on the ice unmoving for a long time as she was attended to by the team's medical and training staff.

Hakala would be treated by medical staff on hand and would eventually be loaded onto a stretcher and carried away to an ambulance that would in turn bring her to hospital. The team later issued an update on Hakala's condition stating that she appeared to be paralyzed from the waist down as a result of the accident. 

"We pressed hard on her leg several times with really hard strength and she did not react," said a paramedic as per Jonkopings-Posten.

Today, Hakala issued an update herself and... well... it's not good.

Hakala confirmed on Instagram that indeed she's paralyzed as a result of the accident, but is actually paralyzed from the chest down. Obviously she will be forced to retire from hockey and will now turn her focus toward building a new life for her and her family.

From Hakala via European hockey insider Szymon Szemberg:

"Not only that I now have to stop playing hockey, something that has been a large part of my life for many years, but that I may be forced to live the rest of my life in a wheelchair."

"Now I need to put all my energy into rehabilitation so that I can recover as well as possible. Therefore, neither I nor HV71 will make any further comments regarding my injury or my status and I ask you all to show consideration and respect for me and my family.”

- Sanni Hakala

Tragic.

I can't even imagine what this woman is going through.

Just 26 years old, on top of the world making a living playing the sport that she loves and it's all taken away from her in an instant.

Here's hoping she gets the support that she needs and continue to lead a happy, fulfilled life.