Cameron Bolton had his sights set on redemption! After leaving the Beijing 2022 Olympics without a medal, the 35-year-old was determined to reach the podium in his fourth Winter Olympics. But on February 9, those plans took a devastating turn!

While training on the snowboard cross course in Livigno, Italy, Bolton suffered a serious crash during a practice run.

At first, he seemed unhurt and carried on with his day. But by the next morning, February 10, he woke up with worsening neck pain. He reported it to the team medical staff, and a CT scan at the Olympic Polyclinic revealed fractures in two places in his neck: two stable neck fractures, which immediately ended his Winter Olympics campaign.

Shortly after the scan, Bolton was airlifted by helicopter from Livigno to a hospital in Milan for further imaging, treatment, and specialist care. An Australian Olympic medical officer accompanied him during the transfer, ensuring he received immediate attention. With the injury confirmed, his 2026 Olympic dreams were over.

In response, the Australian Winter Olympics Committee activated its Late Athlete Replacement rule, bringing in Olympic debutant James Johnstone to compete alongside Adam Lambert and Jarryd Hughes in Thursday’s men’s snowboard cross qualifying.

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Despite the setback, Bolton is doing well in the hospital. Australia’s Chef de Mission, Alisa Camplin-Warner, said in a statement: “He was fine and doing well and being looked after well.” His family is by his side, and he remains in stable condition as he begins recovery.

But Bolton isn’t the only athlete to face a serious injury on the road to the Milan Cortina Winter Games.

Lindsey Vonn’s Winter Olympics run ends in a crash

Alpine skier Lindsey Vonn faced a similarly heartbreaking turn at the 2026 Winter Olympics. On February 8, 2026, she crashed during the women’s downhill event, losing control just seconds into her run when her ski caught a gate. Like Bolton, she tumbled hard, turning what should have been a moment of competition into a medical emergency.

The crash left Vonn with a complex tibia fracture in her left leg, a serious break involving multiple fragments that will require several surgeries to repair. She was airlifted to a hospital in Italy for emergency treatment and surgery. In her first statement since the accident, Vonn wrote on social media that “my Olympic dream did not finish the way I dreamt it would” but stressed she has “no regrets” about returning to compete.

Vonn explained that she was  “simply 5 inches too tight on my line when my right arm hooked inside the gate, twisting me and resulting in my crash,” noting her previous ACL injury had nothing to do with it.

Despite the setback, she reflected positively: “Standing in the starting gate yesterday was an incredible feeling that I will never forget. Knowing I stood there having a chance to win was a victory in and of itself. I also knew that racing was a risk. It always was and always will be an incredibly dangerous sport.”

Like Bolton, Vonn’s Olympic campaign ended abruptly, but her courage remains a testament to her love of the sport.