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A crash at a World Cup ski cross event in Kopaonik, Serbia on Friday has brought about an earlier-than-expected end to the career of Canadian ski cross racer Kevin Drury.
The 37-year-old from Toronto – who had already indicated this would be the last season of his career – was hurt in the big final of the event after colliding with Germany’s Florian Wilmsmann.
The crash started when Wilmsmann and Reece Howden, of Cultus Lake, B.C., clipped skis as they were jockeying for the lead early in the race. When Wilmsmann went down, Drury and Germany’s Tim Hronek crashed into the downed skier, resulting in those three athletes being unable to finish the race.
WATCH | Drury hurt in big crash in Kopaonik final:
Canada’s Kevin Drury’s ski cross career ends with a crash and a silver medal
Despite injuring his right leg in a crash during the World Cup ski cross big final in Kopaonik, Serbia, Toronto’s Kevin Drury won a silver medal, in what will now be the final race of his career. Fellow Canadian Reece Howden was given a yellow card and finished in fourth place.
Drury was awarded the silver medal, while Hronek and Wilmsmann took gold and bronze, respectively.
Howden, 27, was the only competitor to complete the race but was penalized upon review for a line deviation and ranked as last (RAL), putting him into fourth place on the day.
Despite being tied with Wilmsmann the moment the crash happened, Drury was awarded the second-place finish due to ranking higher than the German in the qualifying round.
The extent of Drury’s injuries are not yet known, but the Canadian posted an image of himself in bed from the waist down. His right leg is wrapped with gauze starting at his lower thigh through his foot. Text on the image stated “Not the way I wanted to end my career but I’ll take the podium.”
An Instagram post made by ski-cross racer Kevin Drury following a crash at an event in Serbia, on Friday. (@drury.kc/Instagram)
Speaking after the podium ceremony, Hronek dedicated his win to Drury.
“It’s very sad, man,” Hronek said. “[Drury]’s such a nice skier and I know he will end his career at the end of this season.”
Wilmsmann also wished a speedy recovery for the injured Canadian.
“It was a racing incident, tight battle, really unlucky, especially Tim and Kevin also crashed because of the result of my crash,” Wilmsmann said. “We just hope Kevin is doing alright.”
Naeslund takes women’s victory
On the women’s side, Ottawa’s Hannah Schmidt was the top Canadian finisher, posting a fourth-place result in the big final.
Sweden’s Sandra Naeslund – also the women’s World Cup overall standings leader – won gold, with French skiers Jade Grillet Aubert and Marielle Berger Sabbatel taking silver and bronze, respectively.