Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado fractured a vertebra during the secret and dangerous journey she undertook to reach Norway and accept her award, her spokesperson has confirmed.
A Perilous Voyage to Oslo
The injury occurred last week during a high-risk sea crossing from Venezuela. According to reports from the Norwegian daily Aftenposten, Machado was travelling in a small fishing boat that was battered by high waves, leading to the fracture.
Machado, 58, had previously expressed fears for her life during the treacherous voyage to Oslo. Her arrival in the Norwegian capital was delayed, causing her to miss the official Nobel Peace Prize ceremony on Wednesday, 10 December 2025.
Injury Confirmed After Secret Arrival
Spokeswoman Claudia Macera stated, "The vertebra fracture is confirmed." She added that no further information would be disclosed beyond the details in the Aftenposten report.
After arriving in Oslo in the early hours of Thursday, 11 December, Machado reportedly sought medical attention. She was examined by doctors at the Oslo University hospital in Ulleval.
Defying Injury to Meet Supporters
Despite the painful injury, the opposition leader's determination was undimmed. Shortly after her arrival, she was seen climbing over a barrier to greet supporters gathered outside her hotel in Oslo.
The incident underscores the extreme risks taken by Machado to leave Venezuela and personally receive the prestigious award. Her escape planner had reportedly even feared a potential US strike on her vessel during the flight from Venezuelan waters.
The Nobel laureate attended a press conference in Oslo on 11 December, where photographs captured her listening intently to questions, with no immediate outward sign of the significant injury sustained on her journey to freedom.
