VIDEO: Caroline Buchanan on the mend

BMX Olympian and 4X world champ Caroline Buchanan is making remarkable strides in her recovery from a horrific off-road vehicle crash she suffered in late December. Caroline broke her sternum and nose and punctured a lung in the crash, spending a week in hospital.

Caroline posted a video after attending the Australian Institute of Sport, whose staff have provided her with help and training insights to recover from her injuries.

The World Cup BMXer has told her supporters that she's unlikely to be back on a bike before April as she awaits news on whether she'll need further surgery. This will jeapordise her ability to defend her World BMX Time Trial title that she earned in 2017, along with UCI World Cup 4X and Australian National BMX Champion titles.

"Starting off 2018 every day with small steps and small wins," she said on Facebook. "My new perception of what is level 10 pain for me has certainly increased a lot and not taking health for granted."

She also gave her fans some insight into the extent of the injuries she suffered in the crash, which took place on a private property in her home territory of the ACT.

"I surely won't forget feeling helpless and wondering every what if for roughly 3 hours barely being able to breathe while my lungs both collapsed and filled with fluid and blood throughout surrounding internal areas," she said, "and the worst chest pain with a broken sternum on route to Canberra hospital."

The two-time Olympian isn't wasting time looking backwards, though.

"That is my rock bottom moment which is driving me to continue on towards my dreams, not be diverted because of setbacks, not be scared of pain and no excuses to not continue," she said.

Meanwhile, the crash hasn't stopped her from signing with mobile comms company Boost, nor from releasing signature gloves through Fist!