Injury knocks Canadian freestyle skier Elena Gaskell out of big air event

Canadian freestyle skier Elena Gaskell has pulled out of Monday's big air competition after suffering an injury in training.

Gaskell, a medal hopeful in the event, made the announcement Sunday in an Instagram post.

"Was supposed to compete in my first Olympic event tomorrow but unfortunately (I) am going to have to pull out," she wrote. "I'm absolutely heartbroken ... need some time to process."

The Canadian Olympic Committee said Gaskell suffered an unspecified "lower body" injury during a recent training session and would not be able to compete in the big air event.

Gaskell is also scheduled to compete in slopestyle on Feb. 12 and halfpipe on Feb. 16.

"She will be assessed day by day to determine her participation in the slopestyle event," the COC said.

The 21-year-old from Vernon, B.C., suffered a partially torn meniscus that required surgery in 2020, which cut her World Cup season short.

After not competing during the pandemic-impacted 2020-21 season, Gaskell claimed a bronze medal at the big air World Cup opener in Chur, Switzerland, last October.

Beijing is the first Olympics for Gaskell.

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