Medal Hopeful Injured in Severe Crash During Winter Olympics Training Run
Val Guseli’s aspirations for Olympic glory have taken a significant turn just hours before the competition. The 20-year-old snowboarder has been summoned to fill the gap left by Canadian athlete Mark McMorris, who suffered a severe injury during a training run.
Mark McMorris Injured in Training Crash
Mark McMorris, a veteran competitor and three-time Olympic bronze medalist, experienced a “heavy crash” while practicing on the slopes. This unfortunate event occurred in Livigno, where he had been preparing for the Winter Olympics. Following the incident, McMorris was transported off the mountain on a stretcher, casting uncertainty over his participation in the upcoming events.
Impact on the Competition
McMorris is a notable athlete with bronze medals gained in slopestyle events during Sochi 2014, Pyeongchang 2018, and Beijing 2022. His withdrawal from the competition opens a potentially advantageous opportunity for Guseli. Although McMorris has not yet officially withdrawn from the slopestyle contest, Guseli stands ready to replace him if necessary.
- Guseli competes in three disciplines: big air, slopestyle, and halfpipe.
- He successfully qualified for the halfpipe and is now in contention for the big air event.
- After narrowly missing the big air qualifications last month, he secured the first alternate spot.
Ready for Milano Cortina 2026
Guseli is poised to make history as Australia’s first competitor in the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games. He will participate in the big air qualifier, which will feature 30 competitors vying for 12 spots in the final. The qualifiers are scheduled to begin at 5:30 am AEDT on Friday.
Competing alongside fellow Australian Scotty James in the halfpipe, Guseli represents a significant medal chance for his country. With a combination of talent and determination, he will aim to seize this unexpected opportunity during winter sports’ most prestigious event.
Viewers can catch the Winter Olympic Games Milano Cortina 2026 live and free on Channel 9 and 9Now, with full event coverage available on Stan Sport in 4K quality.
