Skier Rowan Cheshire injured in fall
British halfpipe skier Rowan Cheshire was kept in hospital under observation after she suffered a concussion in a training accident at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park in Sochi last night.
Cheshire, 18, fell heavily on her face and, after remaining unconscious for several minutes, she was taken on a stretcher to a nearby medical tent.
The British Olympic Association said Cheshire will continue to be monitored, with the Alsager-based athlete due to compete in the Olympic ski halfpipe event on Thursday.
Cheshire is considered a medal prospect after winning her first World Cup title in Calgary last month.
Her injury came at the end of a day in which crashes littered the women's snowboard cross competition, with Norway's Helene Olafsen and American Jacqueline Hernandez stretchered off the course after accidents in qualification.
Britain's Zoe Gillings, meanwhile, edged through to the semis of the women's snowboard cross in Krasnaya Polyana but was denied a place in the final by a matter of inches, and had to settle for a ninth-placed finish overall.
Gillings looked to be on course for a top three spot but was pipped on the line by Italian Michela Moioli.
"I'm really disappointed about the photo finish and not quite making the final, but it can be pretty small margins in this sport," said Gillings.
Eva Samkova of the Czech Republic clinched the gold medal as American favourite Lindsey Jacobellis, who famously blew gold in Turin in 2006 when she fell after attempting a stunt on her final jump, slid out of contention after falling when well ahead in her semi-final.
British pair Nick Buckland and Penny Coomes finished 11th in the short programme – the first part of the ice dance figure skating competition at the Iceberg Skating Palace – but were disappointed to have being penalised for an extended lift again, having suffered the same fate in the team event. Buckland again failed to put his partner down within the required sub-six seconds.
