"No matter how you dress it up, I can't walk anymore."

Those were the sobering words from a hugely inspirational woman to German magazine Der Spiegel. German Cyclist Kristina Vogel is an 11-time World Champion and won Gold in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and London 2012 Games.

Her career was still in its prime but appears to have been cut short after a terrible crash during training. Since the crash in June she's been shrouded in secrecy, despite her high public profile.

The interview is the first that fans have heard publically from Vogel since a scary incident saw her airlifted to hospital.

"I didn't want people to see me injured," Vogel said. Adding she plans to hold a press conference later.

The veteran cyclist has overcome a lot of adversity in her career. In 2009 an accident left her in an artificially induced coma for two days after she was knocked from her bike by a car. Three years after the scary incident she won a gold medal in the Team Sprint event at the London Olympics.

News that you'll never walk again would come as a blow to anyone, but it must be that much harder for an athlete. Still, showing trademark grit, Vogel is using her situation to inspire.

"I am still the same crazy person. I want to be a source of motivation for others," she said in the interview. "I believe that the sooner you accept a new situation, the sooner you learn to deal with it."

Vogel crashed while training for the German Grand Prix and was quickly airlifted to hospital. She underwent surgery but hasn't released any news since. Many fans were hoping for a return to the sport and, although this will come as a disappointment, we should all be thankful that she's still alive.