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Livigno: Daisy Thomas is the latest Australian to withdraw from the 2026 Olympics as the team’s injury toll continues to climb.
Thomas was stretchered from the slopestyle course during a practice session a week ago following a crash that re-injured the same knee that she had ruptured her ACL in three months ago.
Australian skier Daisy Thomas.Credit: Getty Images
The 18-year-old Australian was forced to withdraw from the freeski slopestyle, but was determined to compete in the big air event on Saturday (local time).
However, the combination of the knee injury and a shoulder injury sustained from a crash in training on Wednesday has forced Thomas to withdraw from the event and postpone her Olympic debut.
“After successful management of swelling and return to snow testing, I was confident in myself and my knee that I could still be a fighting contender for the podium in big air,” Thomas said.
“After the first night training, another instability episode ensued after several attempts on the big air jump. This is a high-risk sport and having to contend with knee instability adds another layer of difficulty.
“It would be a disservice to myself, my sport and my country to try and drop in, which would likely result in further injury. I’m disappointed that I can’t compete at my very best at the Olympic Games.”
Australian snowboarder Cam Bolton will be transferred to Melbourne for medical treatment.Credit: Australian Olympic Team
Thomas’ withdrawal comes three days after snowboarder Cam Bolton was helicoptered to a hospital in Milan after fracturing his neck at a practice session.
The 35-year-old has since had further scans, and after consultation between the Australian Olympic team’s medical staff, along with spine surgeons in Australia, a decision has been made for Bolton to return to Melbourne to receive treatment.
Bolton will be transferred to Melbourne by an international medical transfer company, with the medical team to arrive in Milan on Sunday (local time) to make an assessment.
He is expected to arrive back in Melbourne on Monday and will be accompanied by a specialist retrieval doctor and nurse.
Snowboarder Misaki Vaughan was also ruled out on the same day, after she failed to pass a head injury assessment following a concussion in training.
Now, the team awaits news on aerial skier Laura Peel, who is due to compete in Livigno for the first time on Tuesday after suffering a knee injury at a training camp last month.
There is no specific diagnosis for Peel’s injury, but Australian Chef de Mission Alissa Camplin said she was giving herself every chance to compete when asked for an update on Wednesday.
“Each day she’s making progress … we’re trying to give her the time and space, our aerial team haven’t even arrived yet, so we don’t need to rush her,” Camplin said.
The Winter Olympic Games is broadcast on the 9Network, 9Now and Stan Sport.
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