Chinese snowboarder Liu Jiayu was injured during women’s halfpipe qualifying at the 2026 Winter Olympics on Wednesday. She was taken to a stretcher after a heavy crash.
The 33-year-old fell hard while attempting her final jump, landing awkwardly on her left arm and shoulder before hitting her face and stomach and flipping backward at the bottom of the pipe. The impact brought qualifying to a halt for around 10 minutes as medical staff treated her on the snow.
What happened during the run?
Liu was completing her second and final qualifying run when she appeared to catch an edge while landing a jump. She had been attempting a 900-degree spin as part of her routine.
Medics rushed to her side shortly after the fall. She was later carried away on a stretcher, drawing quiet concern from athletes and spectators watching at the venue.
According to a post on X, the medical examination team has confirmed that the Chinese player has no ‘spinal abnormalities’ after she was injured during the women’s snowboard halfpipe qualification at the Milano Cortina 2026.
Other matches
Despite the interruption, qualifying resumed and attention quickly shifted to the battle for medals ahead of Wednesday’s final.
History could be made in the women’s snowboard halfpipe final, with American star Chloe Kim chasing a third consecutive Olympic gold medal in the event. Kim finished top of the qualifying standings, easing doubts about a shoulder injury she suffered in January.
She will face strong competition from Japan’s Shimizu Sara, who placed second with a strong second run. Shimizu will be aiming to reverse last year’s World Championship result, where Kim narrowly took gold.
Kim’s teammate Maddie Mastro qualified in third place and will be looking to secure her first Olympic medal after a series of strong recent performances.
Strong field set for final
Seventeen-year-old Choi Gaon of South Korea, a three-time World Cup winner this season, also progressed to the final, continuing her impressive rise in the sport.
Spain’s Queralt Castellet, competing at her sixth Olympic Games, qualified comfortably, adding experience to the final lineup.
China’s Xuetong Cai remains a medal contender after consistent results on the World Cup circuit this season, including two podium finishes.
The women’s halfpipe final is scheduled for Wednesday evening under lights at Livigno Snow Park, where conditions are expected to test both skill and nerve.
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