Olympian Cassie Sharpe has not been cleared to compete in today’s final for the women’s freeski halfpipe competition.
The skier from Comox was in a major crash earlier this week during qualifying for the event. Sharpe was released from hospital and returned to the athlete village, but COC (Canada Olympic Committee) and Freestyle Canada medical staff say she will not be competing in the finals.
Sharpe, despite her fall, placed third in qualifiers.
“I’m okay,” she said in an Instagram video. “I genuinely skied my heart out, and I was going for my third Olympic medal. I wasn’t backing down and I put it all on the halfpipe.”
Sharpe added that she was proud of her result, and thankful to all of the well-wishers and people who have reached out to her and her family.
“It’s a tough one to swallow, and not the way I wanted to end my Olympic experience, but I’m dealing with a heavy concussion, some face contusions and some lingering dizziness. It’s just not safe for me to ski tonight, nor am I medically cleared to.
“This is the right call. It’s hard to accept, but sometimes health, family, friends, life are all bigger than sport. Even when it’s the Olympics.”
“I’ll be back,” she added.