Feb 16, 2014

Two-time gold medalist Shaun White was just out of medal’s reach in fourth place amid more than 30 crashes by contestants in the men’s halfpipe qualifying round. One snowboarder crashed so hard her helmet cracked, raising concerns once again about safety during the Sochi Olympics. A number of tumbles on the slopes have led to changes to the courses. Here are a few of the most wince-inducing images from the slopes of Sochi as some of the world’s best athletes compete for the gold. And sometimes, the opposing team’s coach comes to the rescue.

: Yevgeni Malkin #11 of Russia falls to the ice after colliding with Mikael Granlund #64 of Finland during the Men’s Ice Hockey Quarterfinal Playoff on Day 12 of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics at Bolshoy Ice Dome on February 19, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

: Russia’s Yevgeni Malkin (L) crashes into Team USA’s goalie Jonathan Quick during the first period of their men’s preliminary round hockey game at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games, February 15, 2014. REUTERS/Bruce Bennett/Pool

: David Wise of the United States crashes on his second run in the Freestyle Skiing Men’s Ski Halfpipe Finals on day eleven of the 2014 2014 Winter Olympics at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park on February 18, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)

: Alex Puente Tasias (ESP) crashes on his first run in the giant slalom during the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games at Rosa Khutor Alpine Center. (Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports)

: Portugal’s Arthur Hanse crashes during the first run of the men’s alpine skiing giant slalom event at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics at the Rosa Khutor Alpine Center February 19, 2014. REUTERS/Dominic Ebenbichler

: Andorra’s Joan Verdu Sanchez crashes during the first run of the men’s alpine skiing giant slalom event at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics at the Rosa Khutor Alpine Center February 19, 2014. REUTERS/Dominic Ebenbichler

: Slovenia forward Ziga Pance (19) and Sweden defensemen Alexander Edler (23) crash into the glass during the first period in a men’s hockey quarterfinals game at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Wednesday, February 19, 2014. Sweden defeated Slovenia 5-0. (Harry E. Walker/MCT)

: Slovakia forward Tomas Zaborsky (67) falls as Slovenia defenseman Sabahudin Kovacevic (86) moves the puck in the first period of a men’s hockey game at Bolshoy Ice Dome during the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/MCT)

: Slovakia defenseman Andrej Meszaros (14) falls in front of Slovenia forward Ziga Jeglic (8) in the first period of a men’s hockey game at Bolshoy Ice Dome during the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/MCT)

: Slovakia’s Ivan Baranka (L) falls next to teammate Slovakia’s goalkeeper Jaroslav Halak during the Men’s Ice Hockey Group A match Slovakia vs Slovenia at the Bolshoy Ice Dome during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 15, 2014. (Alexander Nemenov/AFP/Getty Images)

: Charles Hamelin (CAN, 205) falls and takes out Eduardo Alvarez (USA, 256) in the mens’ short track speedskating 1000m quarterfinals during the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games at Iceberg Skating Palace. (Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports)

: Mikelis Redlihs #24 of Latvia falls to the ice while trying to score against Jimmie Ericsson #42 and Henrik Lundqvist #30 of Sweden in the second period during the Men’s Ice Hockey Preliminary Round Group C game on day eight of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Shayba Arena on February 15, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images)

: Germany’s goalkeeper Jennifer Harss falls in the net during the Women’s Ice Hockey 5th- 8th place classifications match between Finland and Germany at the Shayba Arena during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 16, 2014. (Matt Soclum/AFP/Getty Images)

: Denis Osipau (BLR) falls on his jump in men’s freestyle skiing aerials during the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park. (Andrew P. Scott-USA TODAY Sports)

: Joel Gisler (SUI) falls in men’s ski halfpipe qualification during the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park. (Guy Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports)

: Sami Lepisto #18 of Finland falls to the ice after colliding with Alexander Ovechkin #8 of Russia during the Men’s Ice Hockey Quarterfinal Playoff on Day 12 of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics at Bolshoy Ice Dome on February 19, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images)

: An official falls on Team USA’s Kendall Coyne after she collided with Canada’s Meaghan Mikkelson during the first period of their women’s ice hockey game at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, February 12, 2014. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor

: Lucien Koch of Switzerland falls during the Snowboard Men’s Slopestyle Semifinals during day 1 of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park on February 8, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

: Akito Watabe (R) of Japan and Eric Frenzel (L) of Germany fall to the ground after the Nordic Combined Individual NH / 10 km during day five of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at RusSki Gorki Jumping Center on February 12, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

: Finland’s Jenni Hiirikoski (6) scores the game winning goal in overtime on Switzerland’s goalie Florence Schelling (41) as Switzerland’s Sara Benz falls during their women’s preliminary round hockey game at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games February 12, 2014. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

: Italy’s Federica Brignone falls during a Women’s Alpine Skiing Downhill training session at the Rosa Khutor Alpine Center on February 8, 2014, during the Sochi Winter Olympics. (Alexander Klein/AFP/Getty Images)

: France’s Veronique Pierron (L) falls as she competes next to South Korea’s Park Seunghi in the Women’s Short Track 500 m Heats at the Iceberg Skating Palace during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 10, 2014. (Yuri Kadobnov/AFP/Getty Images)

: Japan’s Akiko Suzuki falls during a figure skating training session in preparation for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, in Sochi February 7, 2014. REUTERS/Alexander Demianchuk

: Steven Nyman (USA) falls during men’s alpine training for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games at Rosa Khutor Alpine Center. (Andrew P. Scott-USA TODAY Sports)

: Koch Lucien (SUI) falls during men’s slopestyle semifinals at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park. (Nathan Bilow-USA TODAY Sports)

: Americans Marissa Castelli falls during the figure skating team pairs free skating portion of the competition at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games at Iceberg Skating Palace. (Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports)

: Russia defenseman Inna Dyubanok (77) falls to the ice while chasing the puck between Germany forward Jacqueline Janzen (14) and forward Franziska Busch (25) in a women’s ice hockey preliminary round game during the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games at Shayba Arena. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports)

: Stephanie Magiros (AUS) falls in her second run in ladies’ halfpipe qualification during the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park. (Andrew P. Scott-USA TODAY Sports)

: Arielle Gold (USA) is tended to after an apparent injury during practice for ladies’ halfpipe qualification during the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park. (Andrew P. Scott-USA TODAY Sports)

: Italy’s Elena Fanchini gets tangled in the safety net after crashing in the first training session for the women’s alpine skiing downhill event during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics at the Rosa Khutor Alpine Center February 6, 2014. (REUTERS/Mike Segar)

: Gregory Bretz of the U.S. crashes during the men’s snowboard halfpipe semi-final event at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games, in Rosa Khutor February 11, 2014. (REUTERS/Lucas Jackson)

: Ioan Valeriu Achiriloaie of Romania slides into the safety net after crashing on the Lake Jump during training for the Alpine Skiing Men’s Downhill ahead of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Rosa Khutor Alpine Center on February 7, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

: Shaun White of the U.S. crashes during the men’s snowboard halfpipe final event at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games, in Rosa Khutor February 11, 2014. (REUTERS/Lucas Jackson)

: Great Britain’s Stacey Kemp falls during the Figure Skating Pairs Team Short Program at the Iceberg Skating Palace during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 6, 2014. (Yuri Kadobnov/AFP/Getty Images)

: Austria’s Mathias Weissenbacher crashes during the men’s slopestyle snowboarding qualifying session at the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games in Rosa Khutor February 6, 2014. (REUTERS/Dylan Martinez)

: Russian Anton Gafarov fell with a broken ski in the semifinal. (Getty Images)

: A coach from the Canadian team came to the rescue of a Russian cross-country skier during his men’s semifinal of the cross-country sprint at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2014, in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia. (NBC screengrab via Deadspin)

: Paul Bonifacio Parkinson (ITA) falls during the figure skating team men short program in the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games at Iceberg Skating Palace. (Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports)

: Jeremy Abbott (USA) falls during the figure skating team men short program in the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games at Iceberg Skating Palace. (Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports)

: Robert Kranjec of Slovenia crashes during his jump in the men’s ski jumping individual normal hill qualification round event at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games February 8, 2014. (REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach)

: China’s Shi Jingnan (L) crashes during the men’s 1,500 metres short track speed skating heats event at the Iceberg Skating Palace during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics February 10, 2014. (REUTERS/David Gray)

: Daniel Greig of Australia (L) falls in race one against Yuya Oikawa of Japan (R) in their men’s 500 meters speed skating event during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, February 10, 2014. (REUTERS/Phil Noble)

: Bradley Wilson (USA) falls in men’s moguls finals during the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park. (James Lang-USA TODAY Sports)

: Florence Schelling #41 of Switzerland falls intot the goal during the Women’s Ice Hockey Preliminary Round Group A game against United States on day three of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Shayba Arena on February 10, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images)

: US Julia Krass falls during the Women’s Freestyle Skiing Slopestyle finals at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 11, 2014. (Javier Soriano/AFP/Getty Images)

: Russia’s Anton Gafarov reacts falls in the Men’s Cross-Country Skiing Individual Sprint Free Semifinals at the Laura Cross-Country Ski and Biathlon Center during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 11, 2014 in Rosa Khutor near Sochi. (Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images)

: Italy’s Nicole Della Monica and Italy’s Matteo Guarise fall in the Figure Skating Pairs Short Program at the Iceberg Skating Palace during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics on February 11, 2014. (Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images)

: Italy’s Greta Laurent (2nd L) crashes as Norway’s Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg (L), Sweden’s Britta Johansson Norgren (top R) and Ida Sargent of the U.S. ski during the women’s cross-country sprint quarterfinal at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Rosa Khutor February 11, 2014. (REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth)

: Italy’s Nicole Della Monica (R) looks on as her partner Matteo Guarise falls, as they compete during the figure skating pairs short program at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, February 11, 2014. (REUTERS/David Gray)

: Canada’s Yuki Tsubota crashes during the women’s freestyle skiing slopestyle finals at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games in Rosa Khutor February 10, 2014. (REUTERS/Mike Blake)

: China’s Shi Wancheng crashes during the men’s snowboard halfpipe semi-final event at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games, in Rosa Khutor February 11, 2014. (REUTERS/Mike Blake)

: Devin Logan of the United States slides down the mountain at the end of her run in the Freestyle Skiing Women’s Ski Slopestyle Finals on day four of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park on February 11, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

MORE COVERAGE:

Instagram: Team USA in Sochi, Russia
From A to Sochi: A guide to Olympic events
Daily photos from the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics

One Comment

Midday Matinee – Thoughts On Falling | BPI Campus
Feb 12, 2014 @ 14:00:47

[…] you fallen lately? If so odds are that you are an Olympic athlete, a construction worker, or a person over the age of 65. Falls can be painful and even […]

The crashes, falls, spills and tumbles of the Sochi Olympics

One Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel