“Tough, tough people in this sport,” wrote The Guardian. Screenshots: NBC
Thursday was a major boost for the United States’ cumulative medal count in Pyeongchang – not least of which due to an incredible showing by David Wise and Alex Ferreira who won gold and silver for the U.S. respectively in the men’s ski halfpipe final.
But for all the excitement, two major crashes in the third round of runs in Thursday’s halfpipe final shocked spectators.
The first, Frenchman Kevin Rolland who struggled to land his opening trick in his first two runs, and by the third hit the coping of the halfpipe, splitting his legs, and dropping to the bottom of the pipe on his back.
Nasty crash for French skier Kevin Rolland pic.twitter.com/w1oXRpFcI4
— Busted Coverage (@bustedcoverage) February 22, 2018
The Guardian’s live blog, explains Rolland was “making a frightening moaning noise in the middle of the pipe that we can only hope is simply out of frustration and not pain.”
Rolland was able to ski to the bottom under his own power, but no updates of yet from the French Olympic Committee if he sustained any serious injury.
Just two runs later American Torin Yater-Wallace sent it on his first trick in his third round run and on the second hit the coping, too, landing at the bottom of the pipe.
USA’s Torin Yater-Wallace takes a hard fall on his final run. Live ski halfpipe coverage continues on NBC: https://t.co/9qwkA4L0CX #Olympics pic.twitter.com/m1otYmutYY
— NBC Bay Area (@nbcbayarea) February 22, 2018
The Guardian’s live blog summarized Yater-Wallace’s crash like this:
“[Torin’s] survived so many injuries and illnesses, so it’s horrible to watch him crash here. He hits the lip of the pipe and lands in a heap in the middle. The medical crew makes another trip down from the start, but Yater-Wallace is back to his feet and checking to make sure he has all his gear. Tough, tough people in this sport.”
