After working her way back from a potentially career-ending injury, Cassie Sharpe is about to embark on a second quest for Olympic gold.
The Comox-raised freestyle skier is the defending champion in womenB次元官网网址檚 halfpipe, which she won at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games in South Korea. Beijing, China hosts the 2022 Winter Games Feb. 4-20.
After winning Olympic gold, Sharpe continued to put together strong results at various competitions. She has won several medals at X Games events. But about a year ago, she tore her ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), partially tore her MCL (medial collateral ligament) and fractured her femur. The injury occurred at the X Games Aspen 2021, as she was attempting the first-ever 1260 in womenB次元官网网址檚 superpipe competition.
To repair the ACL, surgeons used part of her hamstring to rebuild the ligament. She struggled through an intense rehabilitation process, grinding it out five days a week in the gym, to return to competitive form.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been just under 11 months, and I feel super strong and good to go,B次元官网网址� said Sharpe, 29. B次元官网网址淭he first bit of the season has been good. IB次元官网网址檝e been slowly working my way back up the leaderboard, from a sixth to a fifth to a fourth. Hopefully this next contest (Olympics) I can put it all together.B次元官网网址�
Her parents, Don and Chantal, saw her in action in 2018, but spectators arenB次元官网网址檛 allowed this time around due to COVID. However, SharpeB次元官网网址檚 younger brother, Darcy, will be there to keep her company because he qualified for the Canadian snowboard team in slopestyle/big air.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 one of the lucky ones that will have a bit of family with me out there,B次元官网网址� Cassie said.
She lives in Squamish while Darcy lives in Whistler B次元官网网址� less than an hour by car on the Sea-to-Sky Highway B次元官网网址� but Cassie figures they see each other more often on the road than at home.
The womenB次元官网网址檚 ski halfpipe competition runs Feb. 17 and 18 in Beijing.
B次元官网网址淚 feel like IB次元官网网址檓 coming back from my injury,B次元官网网址� Sharpe said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been a hard year for everyone COVID-wise. IB次元官网网址檓 just going out there to perform at my best and do the best that I absolutely can, and try to get another podium. But IB次元官网网址檓 also going out there super proud of where I came from, even in just the last 11 months after my surgery. ItB次元官网网址檚 been crazy and super challenging. No matter what happens, IB次元官网网址檓 going out there to have fun and enjoy myself and represent Canada. Everybody is going to try to win B次元官网网址� definitely going out there with that intention.B次元官网网址�
There is one World Cup event remaining after the Olympics, but Sharpe doesnB次元官网网址檛 plan to attend.
reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com
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