Liu Jiayu Injury Update: Snowboarder Recovering After Livigno Halfpipe Fall

Chinese Snowboarder Liu Jiayu Injured in Halfpipe Fall at 2026 Winter Olympics

LIVIGNO, Italy – Chinese snowboarder Liu Jiayu, a veteran competitor at age 33 and a silver medalist at the 2018 Games, sustained an injury during a fall in the women’s halfpipe qualifying event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Livigno, Italy on Wednesday, February 11, 2026. The incident prompted a roughly ten-minute pause in competition as medical personnel attended to the athlete.

According to reports from the Chinese Olympic committee, Liu Jiayu was treated for a head injury but did not suffer any major injuries to her spine. The Associated Press reported that individuals familiar with her medical assessment, who requested anonymity due to the committee’s lack of public statement, confirmed the absence of spinal damage.

The fall occurred during Liu’s second and final qualifying run, as she attempted a 900-degree spin. Witnesses described how the edge of her snowboard caught in the snow, causing her to fall head-first into the bottom of the halfpipe. Her legs and board reportedly snapped over her back in a position known in snowboarding as a “Scorpion.”

Medical staff immediately surrounded Liu and she was eventually transported from the halfpipe on a stretcher. Reports indicate that she remained conscious throughout the ordeal.

The incident occurred shortly after Australian snowboardcross racer Cam Bolton was hospitalized with stable neck fractures, raising concerns about safety on the halfpipe. Sarah Burke, a world champion freestyle skier, tragically died in 2012 from injuries sustained in a halfpipe crash, and Kevin Pearce suffered significant brain injuries while training for the 2010 Olympics, underscoring the inherent risks of the sport.

Liu Jiayu was attempting to secure a position among the top 12 qualifiers to advance to the final round. The crash happened on what would have been the final trick of her run. The competition was temporarily halted while medical personnel provided assistance.

The Chinese Snowboard Federation later released a statement indicating that Liu Jiayu regained consciousness after the fall and that initial medical examinations did not reveal any abnormalities in her spine. Further updates on her condition are expected in the coming hours.

The fall prompted a wave of concern among fellow athletes and fans, highlighting the physical demands and potential dangers faced by snowboarders competing at the highest level. While the exact extent of Liu Jiayu’s injuries remains to be fully determined, the initial reports offer a measure of relief after a frightening incident on the Olympic stage.