Milan Cortina: Snowboard icon cleared to compete after training horror
Canadian snowboarder Mark McMorris has confirmed he will compete in the Olympic slopestyle event, just eight days after a concussion left him unconscious following a training fall.
The 32-year-old is targeting a medal in Italy despite the scary incident on the big air course which forced his withdrawal from that specific discipline.
McMorris suffered a blackout, an abdominal strain, and pelvic injuries after hitting a hidden chunk of debris known as a “snow snake”.
Race against time
Speaking to the media, the triple Olympic bronze medallist revealed the extent of his rapid recovery process.
“We’ve been doing a lot of different tests and taking all the necessary steps to make sure I’m in good shape,” he said.
“I’m thankful to have passed all those tests and, at the end of the day, to be feeling good and feeling confident to get back out there.”
The Canadian star has already inspected the slopestyle course at Livigno Snow Park ahead of qualifying next Monday.
A history of resilience
This is not the first time the serial X Games winner has had to overcome significant physical trauma to compete at the highest level.
In 2017, McMorris was placed in an induced coma after a near-fatal backcountry accident left him with a ruptured spleen, a collapsed lung, and 17 broken bones.
Despite the inherent dangers, he remains undeterred in his pursuit of Olympic glory.
“It’s definitely a dangerous sport, definitely part of the sport at times,” he added.
“I just try to be calculated with the risk, mitigate it as much as I can.”
Danger on the mountain
The risks of the sport have been sharply highlighted during the opening week of the Games.
Chinese snowboarder Liu Jiayu suffered a heavy fall in the women’s halfpipe, sustaining a head injury in a wreck dubbed a “scorpion” due to the hyperextension of the back.
However, for McMorris, the focus remains strictly on the podium.
When asked if his medal goals remained intact despite the physical setback, his response was emphatic.
“Very much so,” he said.