What happened to O'Brien at the Olympics?
Rachel Ellis
Published Jan 09, 2026
O'Brien was involved in a scary crash Monday during the women's giant slalom race at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. She revealed she suffered a damaged tibia, "which unfortunately was an open fracture through my leg," in a Tuesday Instagram post addressing the injury.
What happened to skier o Brien?
O'Brien was skiing at top speed in the second run of the slalom Monday when she lost her balance at the second-to-last gate. Her legs flew wide, and she tumbled past the last gate and into the finish area. It was clear she was seriously injured, and U.S. medical staff rushed to her side.
What happened to the skier in the Olympics?
Opacity. Nina O'Brien gave gratitude toward supporters before officially declaring that she was moving on from her devastating experience at the 2022 Winter Olympics. The 24-year-old alpine skier was hospitalized in Beijing after she suffered multiple leg fractures at the women's giant slalom competition on Feb.
What happened to the downhill skier that crashed?
U.S. alpine skier Nina O'Brien suffers leg fractures after horrific crash at Olympics. American alpine skier Nina O'Brien suffered multiple leg fractures after she crashed during the giant slalom event at the Beijing Winter Olympics on Monday, the U.S. ski and snowboard team said in a statement.
What is Nina o Brien's injuries?
“Nina sustained a compound fracture of her left tibia and fibula just short of the finish in the second run of the giant slalom,” the spokesperson said. “She was transported to the hospital in Yanqing where an initial stabilization procedure was successfully performed by local doctors.
35 related questions foundWho broke leg at Olympics 2022?
YANQING, China — Sofia Goggia bent over on the leg that wouldn't bend, and here, across the finish line that seemed uncrossable, she exploded. She saw a green light, evidence of an Olympic lead, and her brain went racing — back through three hellish weeks, to the Jan.
How is the skier who broke her leg?
BEIJING, China — U.S. skier Nina O'Brien broke her left leg in multiple locations when she crashed during the women's giant slalom event. O'Brien, who trains in Vail, was sixth after the first run. She hit a gate and crashed in the final turn of her second run.
How did Nina O'Brien break leg?
According to the post, she suffered an open fracture to her tibia when her skis parted out from under her near the finish of the “Ice River” technical course. “Well, I gave everything I had, and maybe too much,” O'Brien, 24, wrote on Instagram.
How fast is giant slalom?
For reference, athletes who compete in giant slalom typically reach speeds of around 50 mph, while slalom skiers clock in around 43 mph. While downhill may be one of the most basic courses in alpine skiing, it's also one of the most dangerous.
What happened to german skier in downhill?
German skier Dominik Schwaiger has been taken away in a toboggan after falling during the men's downhill at the Beijing Olympics. He was the second starter and his fall caused a delay in the race. Schwaiger lost control and fell on his back, then slid down the mountain and grazed the safety nets.
What happened to O'Brien in the Olympics?
O'Brien was involved in a scary crash Monday during the women's giant slalom race at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. She revealed she suffered a damaged tibia, "which unfortunately was an open fracture through my leg," in a Tuesday Instagram post addressing the injury.
Did Nina O'Brien break leg?
American skier Nina O'Brien said she was 'giving it everything [she] had' - and 'maybe too much - when she suffered a compound fracture to her left leg in a grisly crash on the second run of the women's giant slalom race at the Beijing Winter Olympics on Monday.
What does Super-G stand for?
Super-G means super giant slalom. It combines the speed of downhill but the technical turning necessary of the giant slalom. The course winds more than the downhill course, but the gates are spaced out more so that the skiers can pick up speed.
What happened to us skier?
BEIJING – U.S. skier Nina O'Brien has a compound fracture of her left tibia and fibula and will be taken back to the United States for further treatment. O'Brien had initial surgery at a hospital in Yanqing, China, near the Alpine ski venue, after a gruesome crash Monday afternoon in the second run of the giant slalom.
What happened to Colby Stevenson?
There were more than 30 fractures in Stevenson's skull, the largest right between his eyebrows. The swelling of his brain left doctors pessimistic of a full recovery and they put him in three days of a medically-induced coma.
What happened to Mikaela Shiffrin?
Mikaela Shiffrin ended her third Olympic Winter Games on Sunday (20 February) without winning a medal. The American and her USA teammates reached the small final in the mixed team parallel, the last event in the alpine skiing programme at Beijing 2022, but were beaten by Norway on time countback after a 2-2 tie.
How fast is super-G?
The average speed in an Alphine Skiing downhill event is 60mph per hour (96km), while in super g events the speed is slightly lower due to obstacles on the track, athletes competing in super g reach speeds of 50mph per hour.
How fast do Olympic super-G skiers go?
I thought so, too - especially after I learned just how fast these speed demons actually fly. According to the official Olympics website, downhill skiers reach speeds of about 80 mph, although they can travel up to 100 mph depending on the course. However, they don't always maintain that speed throughout the run.
Is 50 mph fast skiing?
The skiing speeds of professional athletes can reach upwards of 150 mph, but most recreational skiers travel at speeds between 10 and 20 mph. Downhill racers clock out at 40–60 mph and Olympians tend to ski between 75 and 95 mph, depending on the conditions, their equipment, and their body composition.
What happened to the US female skier?
BEIJING, China — American skier Mikaela Shiffrin was disqualified for the third time at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing while competing in the women's Alpine combined race.
What female broke her leg on the Olympics?
Team USA skier Nina O'Brien's family surprised her at the airport on her way home after a tragic crash in the giant slalom at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics left her out of the competition with a broken leg. O'Brien had surgery in China before boarding a plane from Beijing to Tokyo then on to Texas.
Where does Eileen Gu live?
Eileen Gu is representing the host nation, China, in Beijing. The 18-year-old was born to an American father and a Chinese-born mother, Yan Gu. She lives with her mother and maternal grandmother in San Francisco's Sea Cliff neighborhood, but she decided in 2019 that she would compete for China.
Why do slalom skiers hit the gates?
Rather, hitting the gates lets skiers take the most direct route they can down each track, with the tightest, narrowest turns possible. The rule is that each skier must cross between each set of gates two gates on their way down the slope, and pushing through the inner-edge of the middle gate counts.
How many runs does giant slalom have?
Giant Slalom (GS)
Each skier makes two runs down two different courses on the same slope. Both runs take place on the same day, usually with the first run held in the morning and the second run in the afternoon. The times are added together, and the fastest total time determines the winner.
How steep is an Olympic downhill course?
At a 70 percent gradient, it's the steepest pitch on the course. Within six seconds, racers should reach speeds exceeding 80 miles an hour.