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Chinese snowboarder Liu Jiayu suffered a serious fall during an Olympic qualifying race on Wednesday.
Competition at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics was briefly suspended as Liu remained virtually motionless face up in the snow at the foot of the halfpipe. The edge of the nose of Liu’s snowboard appeared to get caught in the snow, sending her crashing, face-first, into the bottom of the halfpipe.
An emergency sled was used to remove the 33-year-old man from the area for further evaluation. Liu was able to avoid serious spinal injuries, The Associated Press reported, citing sources with knowledge of the professional snowboarder’s medical report.
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Liu Jiayu of the People’s Republic of China reacts after her qualifying run in the women’s snowboard halfpipe during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at the Livigno Snow Park on February 11, 2026 in Livigno, Italy. (Joe Camporeale/Image Images)
Liu is believed to have retained consciousness after the terrifying fall.
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Liu was attempting to finish his second and final qualifying run with a 900-degree turn. After crashing into the halfpipe, his legs and board broke on his back, an accident known in snowboarding as a “scorpion.”
Liu Jiayu of the People’s Republic of China reacts after her women’s snowboard halfpipe race during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at the Livigno Snow Park on February 11, 2026 in Livigno, Italy. (Nathan Ray Seebeck/Image Images)
Cyclists wear protective equipment, including helmets, during competitions. Despite precautions, dangerous accidents remain a significant (and sometimes life-threatening) possibility. If the head or neck is impacted during a fall, the risk of serious injury increases significantly.
Liu Jiayu of China competes in the women’s snowboard halfpipe qualification at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Livigno Snow Park on February 11, 2026 in Livigno, Italy. (Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Former world freestyle skiing champion Dave Murray died in 1990 after suffering serious injuries in a halfpipe accident in Utah. In 2010, Kevin Pearce suffered brain injuries while training for the Vancouver Olympics.
Earlier this week, Australian snowboard racer Cam Bolton was hospitalized. Bolton’s representatives confirmed that he was dealing with multiple stable neck fractures.
