Vernon freestyle skier Elena Gaskell is out of the big air competition at the Winter Olympics due to a knee injury. (Photo credit: Instagram/Elena Gaskell)

By Pete McIntyre

knee injury

Vernon athlete ‘devastated’ by Olympic injury

Feb 7, 2022 | 5:00 PM

A Vernon athlete has been forced to make a crushing exit from the Beijing Olympics due to an injury.

Freestyle skier Elena Gaskell was not able to take part in Monday’s big air competition after tearing the ACL and meniscus in her knee and suffering a bone bruise on her leg on the last day of training.

“I am absolutely devastated,” Gaskell said on her Instagram page. “I do not feel okay at all. I feel like I have worked so hard to be here. I moved towns, to make sure I could train more and stay strong. I have been doing everything I possibly can to make sure this wouldn’t happen.”

Gaskell was also scheduled to compete in slopestyle on Feb. 12 and halfpipe on Feb. 16.

The 21-year-old Gaskell added she has come back from other injuries to make herself better.

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“I worked so hard this season to get my skiing to where it is. I was finally starting to feel happy and confident in myself and my skiing again and this happens.”

Despite the major setback, Gaskell said she will not give up.

“I will come back and be stronger and work harder. But right now, that feels so far away.”

Gaskell thanks everyone who has reached out to her with support.

“I also appreciate everyone who supported me endlessly and has helped me even make it here. I am still so grateful to have made it to the Olympics and will try to make the best out of what time is left.”