Japanese snowboarder Rina Yoshika was taken away in an ambulance after injuring her back in a training crash for the Olympic slopestyle contest.
Yoshika, ranked 12th in the world, fell hard on a jump during this morning’s practice session.
Medical staff rushed to help her. It took about 20 minutes to stabilise Yoshika and put her in a sled to take her down the hill.
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Japanese Olympic officials said the 22-year-old suffered a spinal injury but was not paralysed.
They said she will return home after receiving treatment for her injuries.
This year’s Winter Olympics is taking place with artificial snow at just about every event.
The use of man-made snow has been at the centre of controversy as it is considered to be less safe.
Reigning two-time Olympic champion Jamie Anderson earlier in the week said she was hesitant to take to the slopestyle contest, labelling the artificial surface “bulletproof ice”.
“I think the majority of it is artificial snow so it’s not quite ideal,” Anderson said. “You definitely don’t want to fall.”
The qualification events for the women’s snowboard slopestyle competition gets underway tomorrow.
– with AP
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