Chinese Snowboarder Liu Jiayu Hospitalised After Terrifying Olympic Halfpipe Crash
Chinese snowboarder Liu Jiayu was left completely motionless on the Olympic halfpipe following a truly horrific face-first fall during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games in Italy. The shocking incident occurred during the women's snowboard halfpipe qualification rounds, casting a shadow over the competition.
The Moment of Impact
Jiayu, aged 33, had just successfully executed a complex trick when she suddenly and catastrophically lost her balance. This sent her somersaulting violently face first down the icy halfpipe structure. The veteran athlete ultimately slid to a complete stop, allowing emergency medical personnel to swiftly reach her seemingly unconscious body. The scene was deeply concerning for spectators and fellow competitors alike.
According to reports from Xinhua Sports, a major Chinese media outlet, initial assessments suggest Liu's severe injury is unlikely to be related to her spine. Instead, Xinhua Sports has speculated that the primary trauma might have resulted from her head making direct and forceful contact with the hard surface of the halfpipe during the devastating crash sequence.
Qualification Dreams Dashed
Liu was positioned in 13th place when she began her crucial qualifying run and needed to move up just one single spot to secure a place in the finals. Her fall, therefore, not only caused serious physical injury but also definitively ended her Olympic campaign at these Games.
In snowboarding terminology, Liu's accident is known as a 'Scorpion' fall, a perilously familiar problem within the sport where riders crash face first as their legs and snowboard whip violently over their head. These incidents underscore the extreme risks inherent in high-level halfpipe competition.
Chloe Kim Dominates as Rumoured Boyfriend Watches
Meanwhile, America's snowboarding superstar Chloe Kim finished in a commanding first place during the qualifying session, comfortably ahead of Thursday night's highly anticipated final. Kim, long regarded as the premier women's halfpipe competitor globally for the past decade, qualified with absolute ease.
The California native delivered the best qualifying run of the entire day on her very first attempt. Her routine featured an impressive sequence including a backside 720, a switch backside method grab, a nailed 1080, a frontside 900, and a finishing McTwist 540. This masterful display of technical prowess, style, and grace earned Kim a top score of 90.25—a full 2.75 points clear of her nearest competitor.
Adding a layer of celebrity intrigue, Kim was joined at the Livigno Snow Park near the Swiss-Italian border by her rumoured boyfriend, reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year and Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett. Garrett had recently been spotted at Levi's Stadium for Super Bowl LX before making the transatlantic trek to Italy to support Kim. The pair were seen smiling and celebrating together after she secured her final spot.
Historical Context and Final Preparations
With her qualification secured, Kim used her second run merely as practice to showcase her capabilities. She is the most decorated women's halfpipe star in history and is now on track to become only the second snowboarder ever to earn three gold medals in the same discipline, joining her legendary countryman Shaun White.
Kim will attempt to secure that historic third halfpipe gold medal on Thursday at 1:30 PM ET (7:30 PM in Italy / 10:30 AM PT). Japan's Sara Shimizu finished second in qualifying, while another Californian, Maddie Mastro, locked down third place. Bea Kim, another Californian competitor unrelated to Chloe, finished 10th and also reached the final.
The sporting world now awaits updates on Liu Jiayu's condition while anticipating another potentially historic performance from Chloe Kim in the finals.
