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Injuries have dashed the Olympic dreams of two Canadian hopefuls.
Snowboarder Liam Brearley and ski cross racer India Sherret both revealed on social media that they will have to miss the Milano Cortina Olympics in February because of knee injuries suffered in the leadup to the Games.
Brearley, a world champion in slopestyle, said he recently had knee surgery after injuring his left knee and ankle during training in November.
Sherrett, who competed at the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, announced she tore her ACL and MCL in a crash in Val Thorens, France on Dec. 12. She said she will have surgery Jan. 27.
“I’m devastated and that’s probably an understatement of how I’m feeling right now,” Sherrett, 29, from Cranbrook, B.C., said in her post. “I know there’s more to life than ski racing and more to my career than the Olympics, but almost every choice I’ve made the last four years has been with the Games in mind. To lose it so quickly is crushing. I know I’ll come back stronger and all that but in this moment I’m just really, really sad. “
India Sherret of Cranbrook, B.C. crashed hard Friday at the World Cup ski cross race in Val Thorens, France and had to be removed off the course by toboggan.
Brearley, 22, of Gravenhurst, Ont., said he spent weeks exploring his options for treatment, but the 2025 slopestyle world champion made the decision to have surgery that would keep him from competing at the Winter Games.
“This has definitely been a tough moment for me, but I’m staying positive and focused on coming back stronger,” Brearley said in a release. “I’m grateful for the support from my family, my team, my incredible sponsors, my management team and everyone who has reached out. The Olympics mean a lot, but so does having a long career ahead and competing for Canada. This is just part of the journey.”
Brearley has already begun rehabilitation under the guidance of team doctors and medical specialists, but will be out of action for the remainder of the season, including the Olympics.
“That’s a tough reality to accept. Competing on that stage has been a lifelong dream, and missing it hurts more than I can put into words,” Brearley wrote in a post on Instagram. “I know setbacks are part of the journey, and I’m incredibly grateful for the support from my family, team, sponsors, management, and all of you, it’s meant everything during this time.
“The focus now is recovery and coming back stronger than before. I’m not going anywhere, and I’m more motivated than ever.”
Brearley’s return-to-sport plan is expected to see him begin light on-snow progression in early April.
WATCH | Canadian snowboarder Brearley scores world title in slopestyle:
Liam Brearley of Gravenhurst, Ont., won the men’s title in the snowboard slopestyle competition, at the FIS snowboard world championships in Silvaplana, Switzerland.
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