Elena Gaskell retired from the Big Air freestyle skiing competition

Canadian freestyle skier Elena Gaskell will not participate in the qualifying round for the first-ever Big Air freestyle skiing discipline, which starts today, she announced on Instagram.

“I am heartbroken. I thank everyone who wanted to watch me and support me in this endeavor”, wrote the 20-year-old athlete on Sunday.

She did not share the reason for her decision to retire after training. A spokesman for the Canadian Olympic team said the reason was not related to COVID-19 and would give details later.

Beijing is the first Olympics for Elena Gaskell to win bronze in the Big Air Freestyle World Cup in the Swiss resort of Chur in October.

It is unclear whether Elena Gaskell will take part in the other disciplines of the Games, which include “halfpipe” and “slopestyle”.

Elena Gaskell is a Canadian freestyle skier who competes internationally in the big air and slopestyle disciplines. She joined the national team in 2016. At the first World Cup of the 2021-22 season, Elena Gaskell took bronze in the big air event. On January 24, 2022, she was named to Canada’s 2022 Olympic team in the big air and slopestyle events.