Reigning slopestyle world champion Liam Brearley will not compete at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. The 22-year-old Canadian snowboarder underwent knee surgery for an injury sustained during training in November, an injury that has ended his season.
Brearley confirmed the news himself, stating on Instagram that after exploring all options, surgery was necessary. "Unfortunately, [it] takes me out of the upcoming season and the Olympic Games," he wrote. The athlete had earned an automatic Olympic berth by winning gold at the world championships this past March.
Expressing profound disappointment, Brearley noted that competing at the Olympics had been a lifelong dream. Despite this setback, his message focused on recovery and a determined return to the sport, vowing to come back stronger.
The focus for the champion is now entirely on rehabilitation, forcing him to miss what would have been his debut on the Olympic stage.
_____________________________________________________________________________Source: REUTERS