A 16-year-old Japanese snowboarder suffered a horrific crash in the finals of the men’s halfpipe competition after high winds caused havoc in Pyeongchang.
Snow-sports prodigy Yuto Totsuka landed in a crumpled heap and needed to be stretchered from the course in what commentators described as one of the worst accidents they had ever seen in the competition.
The crash comes amid a wave of criticism from athletes who have hit out at the dangerous and windy conditions they have being forced to compete in in at the winter games in South Korea.
Sixteen-year-old Japanese snowboarder Yuto Totsuka suffered a horrific crash in the finals of the men’s halfpipe competition and needed to be stretchered from the course in Pyeongchang
Footage shows the snowboarder lose control while somersaulting through the air before appearing to injure his head and neck.
Totsuka was seen bouncing off the lip of the frozen pipe before tumbling 22 feet down the ramp to the flat surface below.
Despite the painful fall, reports suggest Totsuka may have escaped serious injury with one Japanese press officer reportedly revealing it was just minor hip damage.
Totsuka – competing in his first Olympic games – landed in a crumpled heap and needed to be stretched from the course in what commentators described as one of the worst accidents they had ever seen in the competition
The crash comes amid a wave of criticism from athletes who have hit out at the dangerous and windy conditions they have being forced to compete in at the winter games in South Korea
During the competition, athletes snowboard down the course performing aerial tricks and stunts – accumulating points for their efforts and execution.
But many have slammed the event organisers for forcing them to compete in the windy conditions which have radically impacted their performances.
Following the crash, a Washington Post reporter tweeted: ‘Scary scene at the halfpipe. Medics tending to Japan’s Yuto Totsuka, who bounded off the lip and fell all the way down the pipe face-first. He was moving, but getting dragged off on a stretcher.’
In the aftermath of the crash, the Olympic Park has been evacuated and events postponed as wind became too forceful to continue.
Many have slammed the event organisers for forcing them to compete in the windy conditions which have radically impacted their performances.
The poor weather conditions have already effected many athletes’ chances in the games.
Competing in the women’s event earlier in the week, Britain’s Aimee Fuller came 17th having suffered a heavy crash on her second run.
While bronze medallist Enni Rukajarvi said: ‘It was pretty bad. I’m happy to land my run and get a good score but I’m most happy that no one got hurt bad.’
Footage shows the snowboarder lose control while somersaulting through the air before appearing to injure his head and neck. Totsuka was seen bouncing off the lip of the frozen pipe before tumbling 22 feet down the ramp to the flat surface below
Rukajarvi also slammed the organisers for allowing the competition to continue despite the dangerous conditions.
She said: ‘It wasn’t [the right decision]. It was better in the practice, but then it got really bad, so they should have cancelled it, or moved it.’
While another athlete said the conditions made it an unfair competition with the wind making it impossible to perform properly.
Despite the painful fall, reports suggest Totsuka may have escaped serious injury with one Japanese press officer reportedly revealing it was just minor hip damage
Austria’s Anna Gasser started the women’s final at the Phoenix Snow Park as one of the medal contenders, but crashed on both runs – managing only 15th place.
She said: ‘I don’t think it was a fair competition and I’m a little disappointed in the organisation that they pulled through with it,’ she said.
‘I think it was not a good show for women’s snowboarding.’