By Dan Egan, Boston.com Correspondent

US mogul skier Heidi Kloser who is currently ranked fourth in the world, fell Thursday in training and completely trashed her knee. She tore her ACL and MCL and has an impact fracture to her femur plus an impact bruise to her tibia plateau. Bad news on the eve of the Opening Ceremonies of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia.

As she was being placed in the ambulance at the Rosa Khutor Ski Area, she asked her father, Mike Kloser a world-class mogul skier and member of the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, “am I still an Olympian?”

That is the question that echoes off all the news stories surrounding the 2014 Winter Olympics such as security and gay rights, here in Russia. The athletes are here and tonight is their night at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2014 Winter Games. They have committed their lives to sport, channeled all of their passion and motivation toward participating in the Olympics.

For Bode Miller, Shaun White, and other big names, they will attempt to win medals, but for the vast majority of the competitors in in Sochi, they are joining an elite group of athletes that get to call themselves Olympians and medals are a long shot.

So for Kloser and all the other world-class athletes who won't get to stand on podiums, get big sponsors, and won't be interviewed by Bob Costas, take a moment during the Opening Ceremonies tonight and think about them, their families and friends who already understand that their victory has already been won.

Yes Heidi Kloser you are, and will always be, an Olympian.