It’s been a bit of a tough start for Canadian Olympians in terms of staying healthy.
Deanna Stellato-Dudek was on the verge of being the oldest figure skater to compete at the Olympics in 98 years, but an injury put her journey to Italy at risk.
Then there was Mark McMorris, the Olympic medalist from 2018, who was forced to withdraw from the big air event in snowboarding. He still has a chance to compete in slopestyle later at the Olympics, even though he suffered a head injury during a training crash.
Now, the latest injury to this Canadian athlete has officially knocked her out of the games.
Meryeta OāDine, who won two medals during the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, has been ruled out of Milan Cortina 2026.
She’s the second athlete in women’s snowboard cross to withdraw from the games due to injury, after Tess Critchlow did so earlier this week. Audrey McManiman is Canada’s lone medal hopeful in the event now.
O’Dine fractured her ankle during a training run in Livigno, Team Canada announced on Saturday.
It was apparently the second time she succumbed to a fractured ankle in a matter of months.
The Prince George, B.C. native suffered the injury during a training session on Saturday.
āIām heartbroken, but I am proud of the work I put in this year to get here,” OāDine said in a Team Canada press release.
“After I fractured my ankle in November, I was able to show myself a new level of dedication, passion and hard work to return stronger. I have seen a new athlete in myself emerge from the challenges I have faced this year and will continue to rise above. I am upset now, but I will grow from this.ā
Back in 2022, O’Dine took home bronze medals in both women’s snowboard cross and the mixed-doubles snowboard cross.
O’Dine was one of six athletes from the northern B.C. town of Prince George to be competing at the Olympics.