Olympic Snowboarder Rescued from Mountain After Crash on Stretcher
Canadian snowboarder Mark McMorris was transported from the course on a stretcher on Wednesday, February 4, after a fall during his big air training at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
At 32 years old, McMorris is gearing up for the big air qualifying event set for Thursday, February 5. This marks his fourth Olympic appearance in Italy, where he has previously secured three bronze medals.
“Snowboarder Mark McMorris experienced a significant crash during big air training this evening,” stated the Canadian Olympic Committee in a release Wednesday night. “Canadian Olympic Committee and Canada Snowboard personnel are providing care. Further updates will be shared as they arise.”
Big Air is a challenging snowboarding event where competitors launch off a 165-foot ramp and spin mid-air before landing. This is the first time McMorris is competing in Big Air on the Olympic stage, following its debut in 2022.
McMorris informed his followers via Instagram on Thursday morning that he had to withdraw from the event.
“Hello everyone, it’s Mark. Just wanted to give you an update,” he said. “I took a fall last night, hit my head, and I won’t be able to participate in Big Air tonight, sadly.”
This, however, does not mean McMorris’ Olympic aspirations for 2026 are dashed.
“Fortunately, things are looking promising for slopestyle, so I’m trying to stay positive and redirect my focus to that competition,” he added. “A huge thank you to the incredible medical staff for their excellent care and to everyone for their love and support. I haven’t been active on my phone lately, but your messages are appreciated. I’ll keep you posted. Much love. Cheers.”
Canadian snowboard official Brendan Matthews witnessed the incident and told the Associated Press that McMorris was discharged from the hospital “immediately.”
“It always looks dangerous when someone takes a fall like that, but all things considered, it’s good news,” he remarked.
McMorris’ fellow Olympians rushed to the comments section to express their support.
“Sending big love my guy ❤️,” wrote American freestyle skier Aaron Blunck. “This gives you time to rest and prepare for slope. It’s still your moment brotha 🙌”
Team USA snowboarder Sage Kotsenburg added, “You’ve got this, warrior.”
“If anyone can do this, it’s you!! 💪🫶,” echoed Austrian snowboarder Anna Gasser.
Lindsey Vonn has strong backing from her teammate Breezy Johnson at the 2026 Olympics, even as she battles through an ACL injury. “There will be six Americans participating in the Downhill training runs; if Lindsey cannot compete… or feels unprepared, others can take her place,” Johnson, 30, noted via Threads.
This isn’t the first time McMorris has faced challenges on the slopes. He suffered critical injuries in 2017 when he collided with a tree, leading to a fractured jaw and left arm, a ruptured spleen, fractured pelvis and ribs, and a collapsed lung.
After undergoing three surgeries, he made a comeback to compete in the 2018 Winter Olympics in under a year. Now, as he approaches his fourth Games—his first after turning 30—he conveyed to AP in January that he felt ready to participate.
“I’ve been feeling quite good,” he stated. “I’m staying strong and putting significant effort into the gym to build a solid frame since what we do can be quite taxing on the body.”
