Sawt Falasteen - New Zealand freestyle skier Ives in hard Olympic crash

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New Zealand freestyle skier Ives in hard Olympic crash
New Zealand freestyle skier Ives in hard Olympic crash / Photo: Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV - AFP

New Zealand freestyle skier Ives in hard Olympic crash

New Zealand freestyle skier Finley Melville Ives was stretchered off on Friday after a hard fall during his second qualifying run for the halfpipe event at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.

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Ives, 19, the current world number one in the event, was treated by medical personnel after missing the landing of a jump, hitting the ice hard and losing his skis and poles.

The competition was suspended for several minutes until he was removed from the course on a stretcher.

It was the second serious crash in two days in freestyle skiing after Canada's Cassie Sharpe also required medical attention following a fall during the women's halfpipe qualifying on Thursday.

The 33-year-old, Olympic champion in 2018 and silver medallist four years ago, lay motionless for several minutes but waved to the crowd as she was carried off on a stretcher.

The Canadian Olympic Committee said she was in a "stable condition".

The halfpipe event carries a high level of risk as the skiers must perform a series of aerial tricks by propelling themselves off the edge of a semi-cylindrical course.

L.AbuTayeh--SF-PST