Crashes, falls and injuries: Photos show heartbreak and recovery at the Winter Olympics
Asha C. Gilbert, USA TODAY
·1 min read
As the best athletes compete on the world's biggest stage at the Winter Olympics in Beijing, they've experienced twists and turns, and ultimately some heartbreaking falls.
U.S. born figure skater Zhu Yi, who is competing for China, left the rink in tears after falling twice during the free skate team competition on Sunday.
Yi said she was "upset and a little embarrassed" after leaving the competition. She competed the next day during the women's short event.
American skier Nina O'Brien was taken off the course in a stretcher after she crashed short of the finish line during the giant slalom event on Monday. She fractured her left tibia and fibula and will be taken back to the U.S. for treatment.
USA Luge’s Emily Sweeney made a heroic return to the Olympics after a crash at the 2018 Olympics where she broke her neck and back.
“There were a lot of moments where I could have walked away, and I didn’t,” Sweeney said. “I chose to stick it out. I’m just proud to be here and I’m proud of everything I’ve gone through.”
Here are photos of some of the worst falls and recoveries at the Winter Olympics so far:
Zhu Yi, of China, competes in the women's team free skate program during the figure skating competition at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) ORG XMIT: OLYYA102
Zhu Yi, of China, reacts after the women's team free skate program during the figure skating competition at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Shaolin Sandor Liu (HUN) falls after colliding with Ziwei Ren (CHN) at the finish line in the men's 1000m short track speed skating Final during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games at Capital Indoor Stadium. Ziwei Ren (CHN) won after Shaolin Sandor Liu (HUN) was penalized and received a yellow card, Feb. 7, 2022.
Ryan Pivirotto of the United States, falls in his quarterfinal of the men's 1,000-meter during the short track speedskating competition at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Nina O'Brien (USA) crashes during the women's giant slalom run two at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games at Yanqing Alpine Skiing Centre.
Nina O'Brien of United States is taken on stretcher after falling during the women's giant slalom at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, in the Yanqing district of Beijing.(AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Summer Britcher, of the United States, crashes during the luge women's singles run 1 at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, in the Yanqing district of Beijing.(AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
Summer Britcher, of the United States, raises her helmet after finishing the luge women's singles run 3 at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, in the Yanqing district of Beijing. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
USA's Ryan Pivirotto reacts after falling in a heat of the men's 1000m short track speed skating event during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at the Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing on February 5, 2022.
Karen Chen, of the United States, falls in the women's short program team figure skating competition at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Karen Chen skates in the women's short program during the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
Teal Harle of Canada crashes as he lands during the men's freestyle skiing big air qualification round of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Teal Harle of Canada competes during the men's freestyle skiing big air qualification round of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
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