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Former Olympic freeski halfpipe champion Sharpe crashes heavily / Photo: © AFP
Former Olympic freeski halfpipe champion Sharpe crashes heavily
Former Olympic champion Cassie Sharpe was stretchered off the course during the women's halfpipe qualifiers at the Milan-Cortina Games on Thursday after suffering a heavy fall.
The 33-year-old Canadian tumbled during her second run, losing her skis and poles and lying motionless on the snow.
Medical staff on skis came to her aid and the crowd fell silent at Livigno Snow Park.
Sharpe was given medical help for about 10 minutes before she was dragged off the course on a stretcher.
Wearing a neck brace, she briefly lifted her head and waved to the crowd.
The champion from the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, who took silver in Beijing four years ago, was firmly on track to qualify for the final at the time of her crash.
After winning her second Olympic medal, Sharpe took a two-year break from competing, during which she gave birth to her daughter, Louella.
She returned to halfpipe competition in September 2024 and earned the first World Cup podium after her comeback three months later.
Sharpe followed up in January last year by winning the X Games for the third time in her career and went on to claim bronze at the 2025 world championships.
Sharpe scored 88.25 during the competition in Livigno, putting her second on the leaderboard after the first round, with the top 12 competitors advancing to the final.
F.Young--SFF
