Canadian snowboarder Mark McMorris was taken off the course on a stretcher Wednesday, February 4, after crashing during his big air training at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
McMorris, 32, was preparing for the big air qualifying competition, held Thursday, February 5. He is a three-time bronze medalist, making his fourth Olympic appearance in Italy.
“Snowboarder Mark McMorris had a heavy crash this evening during big air training,” read a statement from the Canadian Olympic Committee, released Wednesday night. “Canadian Olympic Committee and Canada Snowboard staff are attending to him. We will provide more information as it becomes available.”
Big Air is a snowboarding event that requires competitors to take off from a 165-foot tall ramp and complete several mid-air spins before landing. The competition made its Olympic debut in 2022 and this is McMorris’ first time competing in Big Air on the Olympic stage.
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McMorris updated his followers via Instagram on Thursday morning, confirming he would have to withdraw from the event.
“Hey everyone, it’s Mark here. Just wanted to update you guys,” he began. “I took a fall last night. I hit my head and I will not be able to compete in Big Air tonight, unfortunately.”
That does not necessarily mean McMorris’ 2026 Olympic dream is over.
“Fortunately, things are looking up for slopestyle, so just trying to stay positive and shift my focus to that event,” he continued. “A massive thank you to the amazing medical staff that took awesome care of me and thank you all for reaching out, all the love and support. I haven’t been on my phone much but the messages do not go unnoticed. So thank you. I will keep you updated and much love. Cheers.”
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Canadian snowboard official Brendan Matthews witnessed the accident and told the Associated Press that McMorris was released from the hospital “right away.”
“It always looks scary when somebody takes a hard fall like that, but all things considered, it’s good news,” he said.
McMorris’ fellow Olympians flocked to the comments section to share their support.
“Sending big love my guy ❤️,” wrote American freestyle skier Aaron Blunck. “Gives you time to rest the body and mind for slope. Still your time brotha ?”
Team USA snowboarder Sage Kotsenburg added, “Warrior you got this.”
“If someone can do this it’s you !! ??,” Austrian snowboarder Anna Gasser chimed in.
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This isn’t the first time McMorris has faced adversity on the slope. He suffered life-threatening injuries in 2017 when he crashed into a tree and fractured his jaw and left arm, ruptured his spleen, fractured his pelvis and ribs, and endured a collapsed lung.
After a trio of surgeries, he returned to compete in the 2018 Winter Olympics less than a year later. Now, headed into his fourth Games and his first after his 30th birthday, he told the AP in January that he was ready to go
“I’ve been feeling pretty good,” he said. “Staying strong and putting quite a bit of effort in the gym to build a robust frame, because what we do can be a little tricky at times on the body.”
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