Canadian snowboarder Mark McMorris is feeling more positive about his chances of competing in his fourth Winter Olympics following a recent training accident that prevented him from participating in the men’s big air event. Despite hitting his head during the crash in Italy, McMorris is optimistic about his potential involvement in the upcoming slopestyle event scheduled for February 16 at Livigno Snow Park.
In an Instagram post on Friday, the 32-year-old athlete expressed his improving condition, stating, “Getting better day by day, hour by hour. There is a really good chance I will get [medically] cleared to compete in slopestyle and that’s all I need to keep pushing my hardest.” McMorris, who was briefly hospitalized after the incident, expressed gratitude for the outpouring of love and support from fellow Canadians, assuring them that their messages are appreciated and promising to provide updates on his progress.
Describing McMorris’s crash as a “freak accident,” Brendan Matthews, Canada Snowboard’s vice-president of business development and partnerships, explained that the mishap occurred while the snowboarder was executing a trick and unexpectedly caught some loose snow with his heel edge, resulting in a significant fall. McMorris has previously secured three Olympic bronze medals in slopestyle events in 2014 (Sochi, Russia), 2018 (Pyeongchang, South Korea), and 2022 (Beijing).
