Aussie 16-year-old Indra Brown soared into the women’s freeski half-pipe final at the Winter Olympics on Thursday night – and could be a genuine medal chance – after scary scenes when two-time Olympic medalist Cassie Sharpe had to be taken away on a stretcher. The Canadian was competing in qualifying alongside Brown when she crashed heavily and was left prone at the bottom of the half-pipe.
Chinese superstar Eileen Gu was among the many left looking on in shock, with fans seen covering their mouths while they waited for an update. Thankfully Sharpe was seen raising her hand to let everyone know she was ok, but she had to be taken away on a stretcher while wearing a neck brace nonetheless.
Eileen Gu was seen looking concerned for Cassie Sharpe. Image: Channel 9
Dave Culbert said in commentary for Channel 9: “Just as things were going so well for an athlete who has had two medals in her two Games – gold and silver. There’s justifiable concern from the Canadians here. There’s a sense of serious concern.”
Sharpe was able to qualify for the final due to the score she produced in her first run. But it remains to be seen whether she’ll be able to compete after appearing to slam down hard on her left side.
Cassie Sharpe was put in a neck brace and taken away on a stretcher.
The 33-year-won gold at the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang, and then got silver in Beijing four years ago. She took a two-year break from competing after Beijing, having baby daughter Louella during that time.
She returned in September of 2024 and was back on the World Cup podium three months later. In January last year she won the X Games for the third time in her career and claimed bronze at the 2025 world championships.
Eileen Gu and Aussie teenager advance to final
Meanwhile, Gu overcame a fall in her first run to advance to the final. Gu is the defending champion in the event after winning gold in Beijing. She’ll be hoping to add another gold to the two silvers she’s won at Milano Cortina.
She clipped the lip of the half-pipe on the third trick of her first run, knocking her left ski off and sending her sliding to the bottom of the course. But she managed to earn an 86.50 on her second, which was good enough to place fifth among the 12 skiers who advanced to the final.
“I was relieved,” Gu said. “I just kind of had this moment of like, ‘Thank you.’ You know, I shouldn’t be in this position to begin with, but I’m glad that I was able to reinforce my sense of self-belief at the moment when it counted.”
Indra Brown reacts after qualifying for the women’s freeski half-pipe final at the Winter Olympics.
(Cameron Spencer via Getty Images)
And Brown roared into the final just a month after she celebrated her 16th birthday. The youngest member of the Aussie team showed no nerves on her Olympic debut as she qualified for Saturday’s final in fourth place.
If Sharpe is unable to taker her place, it would make Brown a genuine medal chance. It would take the Australian tally to a record-extending seven (currently including three golds) if she was to make the podium on the penultimate day of competition.
“Amazing,” she said after qualifying for the final. “To be able to put two runs down at my first Olympics, it’s just a relief, and I’m enjoying it so much.
“I don’t want any pressure or any thoughts of a certain result. I want to just go out there, ski my first Olympic finals at my first Olympics and enjoy it, because it’s something that doesn’t come very often.”
with agencies