Two-time Olympic bronze medalist Meryeta O’Dine has been forced to withdraw from the 2026 Winter Olympics at the very last minute. An injury sustained during training has ended the Canadian’s hopes of competing at Milan-Cortina.
This news comes as a big blow for Team Canada ahead of the start of the snowboarding events at the 2026 Winter Olympics. O’Dine was expected to be one of the medal contenders in the women’s snowboard cross event before suffering her injury.
Injury Rules Meryeta O’Dine out of 2026 Winter Olympics
Team Canada announced on Saturday that O’Dine has been ruled out of the 2026 Winter Olympics due to a fractured ankle. She suffered her injury due to a fall during a training session, and tests later confirmed a bone fracture, ruling her out of the Olympic Games.
“But I am proud of the work I put in this year to get here. After I fractured my ankle in November, I was able to show myself a new level of dedication, passion and hard work to return stronger,” O’Dine said in a statement released by the Canadian Snowboarding Team.
“I have seen a new athlete in myself emerge from the challenges I have faced this year and will continue to rise above. I am upset now, but I will grow from this,” she added.
O’Dine won two bronze medals at the 2022 Winter Olympics. She finished third in the women’s snowboarding cross and the mixed team snowboarding cross events.
Snowboarding Schedule for the 2026 Winter Olympics
Snowboarding is one of the most highly anticipated events at any Winter Olympics, and the Milan Cortina Games will be no different. The snowboarding action is already underway, with more exciting events scheduled for Saturday at the Livigno Snow Park.
The men’s big air medal event will take place on Saturday, followed by the men’s and women’s parallel giant slalom qualification and medal events on Sunday. The women’s big air qualification runs will also take place on Sunday, followed by the medal event on Monday.
Wednesday will feature the men’s and women’s halfpipe qualification events, while Thursday will be headlined by the men’s snowboard cross and women’s halfpipe medal events.
The snowboarding action will continue on Friday, when the women’s snowboarding cross qualifiers and medal event take center stage, followed by the men’s halfpipe medal event.
On Sunday (Feb. 15), fans can look forward to watching the mixed team medal event. The snowboarding coverage will continue on Monday (Feb. 16) with the men’s and women’s slopestyle qualifiers. The women’s slopestyle medal event is scheduled for Tuesday (Feb. 17), followed by the men’s slopestyle final on Wednesday (Feb. 18).
