10 Most Devastating Olympic Ski Snowboard Crashes
10 Most Devastating Olympic Ski & Snowboard Crashes
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re exploring the most catastrophic ski and snowboarding crashes that happened at the Winter Olympics and Paralympics, either from the falls themselves or from the context behind them.
Avery Krumme
2026 Winter Olympics, Milano Cortina
One of the youngest athletes at the 2026 Games at the age of 17, Krumme, while born in Canada, switched allegiances a couple of years earlier to represent the US at Milano Cortina. After comfortably making it through qualification in the women's slopestyle freeskiing event, the final started well with her first run, slightly dropping in her second. Yet in the third run, disaster struck for Krumme. Within seconds of starting, she slipped on the first rail and collided with it, causing one of her skis to fall off. With a score of 0.86 in the run, Krumme finished the final in last place. However, with age on her side, she’ll hopefully come back strong in 2030.
Tyler Walker
2014 Winter Paralympics, Sochi
In 2014, Walker competed in the sitting class for the Alpine skiing men's downhill event in his debut Winter Paralympics. However, there were issues with the course, causing many people to crash, resulting in only 12 of 22 racers finishing the race. Unfortunately, Walker wasn’t one of them. After starting well, Walker struck a bump that launched him into the air, causing him to slam into the ground brutally as his equipment sprayed all around him. While it was uncomfortable viewing as the US athlete lay motionless for a moment and needed a helicopter to be taken for treatment, Walker didn’t suffer any fractures. However, he didn’t remember the incident. In 2018, he returned to the Winter Paralympics, securing two silver medals.
Christopher Del Bosco
2018 Winter Olympics, PyeongChang
After going to rehab following substance issues and fracturing his neck in an attack, Del Bosco rose in competitive skiing to take five medals at the Winter X Games, including two golds, and became World Champion. In 2018, he represented Canada in the freestyle skiing men's ski cross. However, it all went wrong during his ⅛ heat. In the final jump, Del Bosco lost his balance in the air, causing him to crash heavily on the cold surface, making him unable to finish. After being stretched off, it was discovered he’d suffered four broken ribs, a bruised lung, and a fractured pelvis. Thankfully, Del Bosco recovered and returned to competing professionally, even switching to representing the US.
Mercedes Nicoll
2014 Winter Olympics, Sochi
A regular on the podium at the FIS Snowboard World Cup, Canadian snowboarder Nicoll was looking to finally do the same at the Winter Olympics in 2014. However, during a practice run for the women’s halfpipe, she clipped the edge, causing her to land headfirst. When her coach checked on her, Nicoll reportedly yelled insults at him, which was uncharacteristic of her. The fall had resulted in a severe concussion. Despite that, Nicoll still competed. However, she was unable to progress from the qualification. The seriousness of the concussion came clear as Nicoll couldn’t snowboard for two years and needed to relearn to talk and walk. After returning for the 2018 Olympics, Nicoll retired to focus on her mental health and athlete advocacy.
Mikaela Shiffrin
2022 Winter Olympics, Beijing
With six World titles, two Olympic golds, and one silver medal, Shiffrin went into the 2022 Winter Games with high expectations from fans of getting at least three gold medals in the six events she was participating in. However, that, unfortunately, wasn’t the case for the US skier. When defending her gold medal from 2018 in the alpine skiing women's giant slalom, Shiffrin, during her first run, slipped at the fifth gate. Days later, likely with that disappointment on her mind, she stumbled during her first run in the slalom, ruling her out again. Finally, during the slalom portion of the combined event, she started strongly before slipping once again. As a result, Shiffrin left the Games without a medal for the first time.
Shaun White
2014 Winter Olympics, Sochi
One of the greatest snowboarders ever, White was looking to extend his rule in the men’s halfpipe event by taking gold for the third consecutive time, extending his incredible record. However, after injuring his wrist during practice for the slopestyle, causing him to pull out of that event, it only got worse for him as he struck the edge with his board. As a result, White’s halfpipe result was degraded, putting him fourth overall. After coming back strong in 2018 by becoming the oldest to win halfpipe gold, in 2022, White wanted to go out on top before retiring. After a strong first and second run, it looked possible. However, on the third, White slipped on a landing, causing him to finish fourth once again.
Nina O’Brien
2022 Winter Olympics, Beijing
A rising star in alpine skiing, O’Brien’s season standings had been on the rise coming into the 2022 Winter Olympics. Representing the US in the women’s giant slalom, her first run went well, placing her sixth in the overall rankings. However, disaster struck in the second run. Right before the finish line, O’Brien lost her balance after clipping a gate, causing her leg to bend awkwardly as she crashed. The medical team reacted quickly to treat her. The skier was taken in for surgery to repair the compound fracture of two of her leg bones, and she'd suffered a partially torn MCL. After recovery and rehab, O’Brien returned to the slopes, even taking part in the women's team combined at the 2026 Games.
Hermann Maier
1998 Winter Olympics, Nagano
Making his Olympic debut in 1998, Maier’s first event was in the alpine skiing men's downhill. With an explosive start, the Austrian lost his balance during a turn. This morphed a mediocre issue into a catastrophe when he immediately met a jump. In an infamous clip, Maier turned awkwardly, landing hard on the ground as his momentum threw him into the multiple barriers. Incredibly, he was fine. Turning the devastating incident into an amazing comeback story, days later, Maier would go on to win two gold medals in the giant slalom and super-G events. However, had he not crashed on the downhill, he could’ve joined a handful of athletes to win three golds at a single Winter Olympics.
Lindsey Vonn
2026 Winter Olympics, Milano Cortina
In 2019, after a career of breaking records and winning Olympic and World medals, Vonn announced her retirement from skiing. Following a knee replacement, the US legend returned to competition in 2024. Yet with the 2026 Games being her last, Vonn’s chances were seemingly crushed when, at the World Cup, she crashed and ruptured her ACL. However, showing an incredible resolve, she went ahead with competing in the alpine skiing women's downhill event at her last Olympics. 13 seconds into her run, Vonn’s arm clipped a gate as she was in the air, putting her off balance as she fell heavily to the snow. After being airlifted to the hospital, it was confirmed that she’d broken her leg, requiring multiple surgeries to fix the damage.
Lindsey Jacobellis
2006 Winter Olympics, Turin
After taking gold for the women’s snowboard cross event at the 2005 World Championships, Jacobellis was one of the favourites to replicate the feat at her Olympic debut at the 2006 Games. Leading comfortably near the end of the race, the snowboarder was already seeing her name in the headlines. With one of the final jumps, she did a method grab to showboat and celebrate her win. However, Jacobellis slipped the landing, allowing second-place Tanja Frieden to sweep in for gold. The American had to settle for silver. Despite the international humiliation that followed, Jacobellis incredibly picked herself up and won various competitions. At the 2022 Olympics, she finally got not one, but two golds at the women’s and mixed team snowboard cross events.
Are skiing and snowboarding the most dangerous sports at the Winter Olympics or is another event far more hazardous? Let us know below.
