Team Canada snowboard medalist Mark McMorris airlifted after training crash

LIVIGNO, Italy -- Canadian snowboarder Mark McMorris was airlifted to medical attention Wednesday following a crash during a nighttime training run as the three-time bronze medalist prepared for his fourth Winter Games.

McMorris was completing practice runs ahead of the men's big air competition, which begins Thursday in Livigno. Team Canada issued a brief statement but didn't provide details on the incident or McMorris' medical condition. He was removed from the mountainside on a stretcher.

"Canadian Olympic Committee and Canada Snowboard staff are attending to him," Team Canada said. "We will provide more information as it becomes available."

McMorris, 32, won bronze medals in slopestyle at Sochi 2014, Pyeongchang 2018 and Beijing 2022.

He has battled through injuries throughout his career. In a 2017 crash, his injuries were considered life-threatening. He broke his jaw and left arm, ruptured his spleen, suffered a pelvic fracture, rib fractures and a collapsed lung.

Just Tuesday, McMorris said he was healthy and ready to compete.

"My body's responding well to lots of riding, and I'm having fun," McMorris said.

--Reuters, Special to Field Level Media