Aussie boarder’s Olympics ended by serious injury
Melissa Woods |
Australia’s Winter Olympic team has been rocked with veteran snowboarder Cam Bolton ruled out of the Games after breaking his neck in training and transported to Milan by helicopter.
Competing at his fourth Olympics, the 35-year-old suffered a fall on Tuesday while training for the snowboard cross event.
The Australian Olympic team put out a statement saying Bolton experienced worsening neck pain after the fall with scans revealing the seriousness of the injury.
“The Australian Olympic Team medical staff arranged a CT scan at the Olympic Polyclinic which identified two stable neck fractures.
“He has been transferred by helicopter to a hospital in Milan for further imaging and assessment accompanied by a member of the Australian Olympic medical team.
“The Australian Olympic medical team will continue to work with local doctors on Bolton’s treatment.”
Debutant James Johnstone will join the team alongside Adam Lambert and Jarryd Hughes as his replacement.
It’s the third injury to strike the Australian team, with aerials medal favourite Laura Peel injuring her knee at a pre-Olympics training camp, while young freeskier Daisy Thomas also suffered a knee injury in a fall.
While Thomas was ruled out of the slopestyle, she is hopeful of competing in the big air while four-time Olympian Peel hasn’t given up hope of landing an elusive medal.
Bolton was the highest-placed Australian men’s snowboard cross rider in Beijing in 13th place, while he also finished ninth in the first ever team event alongside Belle Brockhoff, whose own career was ended by injury.
He was due to line up in the men’s seeding round on Thursday morning in Livigno with the opening round getting underway later that day.
AAP
