Widow of knife attack off critical list

BEIJING (TICKER) —Barbara Bachman, the widow of the American stabbed to death on the opening weekend of the Olympics, improved from critical to stable condition, the United States Olympics Committee announced Monday.

Mrs. Bachman was with her husband, Todd, when they were attacked by a Chinese man with a knife while visiting the 13th-century Drum Tower in Beijing on Saturday.

Todd Bachman, the father of former Olympic volleyball player Elisabeth “Wiz” Bachman, was killed in the frenzied attack at the popular tourist site. His wife and a Chinese tour guide were also stabbed.

The attacker, later identified as Tang Yongming, 47, then committed suicide, throwing himself from the ancient monument.

Committee spokesman Darryl Seibel said Mrs. Bachman’s family and the U.S. committee were “very, very, very happy to report her condition is upgraded.”

Todd Bachman was also the father-in-law of current U.S. men’s volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon, who left the team following the news of the attack. He was absent for Team USA’s win over Venezuela on Sunday.

The bizarre attack came less than a day after the magnificent opening ceremony for the XXIX Olympiad, placing a major shadow over the Games.