2026 Olympics: violent fall of Canadian Sharpe, evacuated on a stretcher but qualified for the halfpipe final

The image sends shivers down your spine. Double Canadian Olympic medalist Cassie Sharpe was evacuated by emergency services this Thursday after a very impressive fall on her second pass during the ski halfpipe qualifications for the 2026 Winter Olympics. The 33-year-old athlete, gold in Pyeongchang and silver in Beijing, remained motionless for around ten minutes at the bottom of the track, after hitting her head on the ground. Evacuated on a stretcher, she was able to greet the crowd as she left the halfpipe.

She was almost done with her last run when she lost her balance just after landing a jump. His coach, at the top of the track, and his loved ones gathered at the bottom waited for long moments, visibly worried. The public, made up of many Canadians who came to encourage her, applauded their champion for a long time when she showed signs of life, appearing slightly smiling but very dazed, her neck in a neck brace, leaving the halfpipe.

She achieved the 3rd best score (88.25 points) of the evening during her first pass, earning her ticket for the final scheduled for Saturday at 7:30 p.m. No information was provided regarding his state of health Thursday evening.

The British Zoe Atkin (91.5) dominated these qualifications, ahead of the Chinese Fanghui Li (90 pts). Freestyle skiing superstar, Chinese Eileen Gu also qualified for the final with the 5th best score (86.5 pts). Already a double silver medalist in Livigno, in slopestyle and big air, the 22-year-old athlete is aiming for gold in the halfpipe, of which she is the outgoing Olympic champion. On Thursday, she also fell, without seriousness, on her first pass, but recovered well on the second.