Chinese snowboarder Liu Jiayu experienced a terrifying and dramatic fall during the women's halfpipe qualifying at the 2026 Winter Olympics on Wednesday, necessitating her removal from the course on a stretcher. The 33-year-old athlete, a silver medallist from PyeongChang, landed with immense force on her left arm and shoulder before her face and stomach slammed into the ground, causing her to bend backwards and somersault violently through the pipe.
Qualifying Run Ends in Devastating Accident
The horrific incident occurred as Liu attempted to complete a 900-degree spin on her second and final qualifying run. Her snowboard slammed flat onto the transition part of the pipe but quickly caught an edge as it approached the flat section. This caused her to be thrown forward violently, with her legs and board snapping over her back in a crash known in snowboarding circles as a "Scorpion."
Competition Halted for Medical Attention
The crash brought all action on the halfpipe to an immediate standstill for approximately ten minutes while emergency medical staff rushed to attend to the injured athlete. Liu had been widely predicted to achieve a top-five performance and secure qualification for Thursday night's final, making the accident particularly shocking for spectators and fellow competitors alike.
Fellow athletes appeared visibly distressed in the mixed zone following the incident, with Liu's teammates from the People's Republic of China seen rushing back to their team area to check on their compatriot's condition. As of Wednesday, there has been no immediate update from the Chinese team regarding Liu's medical status or prognosis for recovery.
Chloe Kim Dominates Qualifying Round
While Liu's accident cast a shadow over the qualifying session, legendary American snowboarder Chloe Kim delivered a commanding performance to finish first in the standings. The 25-year-old's dominant display sets the stage for a historic attempt at securing her third consecutive Olympic gold medal in the event.
Kim's Remarkable Technical Display
Kim's qualifying run included a massive big air leap that propelled her an impressive 13 feet above the halfpipe's edge, punctuated by a showy board grab that demonstrated her complete control. She also executed a technically demanding 1080-degree spin while riding backward, immediately distinguishing herself from the two dozen riders competing for a place in Thursday night's final.
Following her performance, Kim quipped, "I might be better at snowboarding than I am at walking," highlighting both her confidence and the extraordinary skill level she brought to the competition. Her score of 90.25 placed her comfortably ahead of Japan's Shimizu Sara (87.50) and U.S. teammate Maddie Mastro (86.00).
Qualifying Results and Final Field
Japan's Judo Rise secured fourth position with a score of 84.75, while Republic of Korea's 17-year-old rising star Choi Gaon ended qualification in sixth place with 82.25 points. These athletes will now advance to Thursday night's final, where they will compete for Olympic medals in what promises to be an emotionally charged event following Liu's serious accident during the qualifying round.
The snowboarding community now awaits further news about Liu Jiayu's condition while preparing for a final that will see Chloe Kim attempt to make Olympic history with a potential third consecutive gold medal in the women's halfpipe event.
