World champion slopestyle snowboarder Liam Brearley will miss the upcoming Olympic Games after suffering a serious knee injury that required surgery.
The 22-year-old Gravenhurst, Ont., native was injured during a training session in November, also sustaining damage to his ankle. Following medical evaluation, Brearley underwent surgery and has since been ruled out of Olympic competition as he focuses on recovery and rehabilitation.
Brearley was enjoying a breakthrough season on the international stage before the injury. In March, he captured slopestyle gold at the world championships in Engadin, Switzerland, delivering a dominant second run that scored 90.15 points. The performance put him more than five points ahead of runner-up Su Yiming of China and firmly established him as one of the sport’s rising stars.
Earlier in the season, Brearley also impressed at the X Games in Aspen, Colo., finishing fifth against an elite field in January.
The setback is a significant disappointment for the young Canadian, who had been considered a strong medal contender heading into the Olympic Games. No timeline has been announced for his return to competition as he continues his rehabilitation.
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