Canadian athlete Cassie Sharpe was evacuated on a stretcher after a severe fall during the qualifying round of women's halfpipe at the Winter Olympics.
Cassie Sharpe, a two-time Olympic medalist from Canada, was evacuated by emergency services after experiencing a significant fall during the second run of the qualifying round for women's halfpipe skiing at the Winter Olympics. The incident occurred on a Thursday when the 33-year-old athlete, who won a gold medal in 2018 and a silver in 2022, hit her head hard upon landing after performing a jump. She remained on the slope for several minutes, evoking concern from the crowd and competitors alike.
Before being taken off the halfpipe on a stretcher, Sharpe was able to give a gesture of appreciation to the audience, many of whom were her fellow Canadians there to support her. Despite the alarming scenario, she managed to secure the third-best score in the qualifying round, totaling 88.25 points from her first run which allowed her to qualify for the finals scheduled for Saturday. However, her participation is contingent on the monitoring of her health following the accident.
The incident has raised concerns over athlete safety in this high-stakes sport, especially given the intense pressure competitors face at the Olympics. With the support of her home fans, Sharpe's brave performance highlighted both her skill and the risks of halfpipe skiing, potentially igniting discussions on how to better ensure athlete safety amid the fierce competition at such prestigious events.
