Chinese snowboarder Liu Jiayu suffered a terrifying crash during the women's halfpipe qualifying round at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy. The 33-year-old, a 2018 Olympic silver medalist, lost control during a 900-degree spin, resulting in a face-first impact at the bottom of the halfpipe. She was conscious and transported to a local medical center on an emergency sled. Medical evaluations confirmed no spinal injuries, though the fall was severe enough to briefly pause the competition.
Liu, a six-time World Cup champion, was attempting to secure a spot in the finals when the accident occurred. The crash, known in snowboarding as a "scorpion" fall, involved her legs and board flipping over her back. Despite protective gear, such incidents remain a significant risk in high-speed snowboarding events. The Chinese team manager later confirmed that imaging results showed no spinal abnormalities.
The incident follows recent injuries in the sport, including Australian snowboarder Cam Bolton, who suffered stable neck fractures earlier this week. Liu's crash highlights the inherent dangers of halfpipe competitions, where riders perform high-risk maneuvers at extreme speeds.