Olympics / Bobsledding : Training crash ends silver medalist's comeback dream

American bobsled pilot Todd Hays was forced into retirement yesterday due to serious brain injuries sustained in a training run crash in Germany.

Hays, who won a silver medal at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics to end a 46-year U.S. medal drought in the sport, was originally thought to be suffering from a concussion but was later diagnosed with a hematoma.

"This is one of the most difficult things I've experienced," Hays said in a statement. "My family and my future are more important than anything and I need to keep that in mind as I consider what's happened. This isn't how I wanted to end my career, and I'm devastated because I feel like I'm letting my team down."

The 40-year-old Texan returned to the sport in 2008 after a two-year hiatus, in an attempt to qualify for the U.S. team for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. He began the World Cup season by taking second place in a two-man event in Park City, Utah. Hays suffered his injuries when he crashed during a four-man training run last week in Winterberg.