Winter Olympics: Team GB’s Gus Kenworthy is ‘happy to be walking’ after crash in halfpipe final

Team GB’s Gus Kenworthy admitted he was happy to leave Beijing in one piece after crashing in the men’s halfpipe final to finish eighth. 

The 30-year-old brought the curtain down on his career as he made his third appearance at the Winter Olympics. 

But he could not end round off his career with a medal, despite overcoming a horrible fall during his second run to put in a solid performance in his final. 

Team GB’s Gus Kenworthy admitted he was happy to leave Beijing in one piece after crashing

The 30-year-old took a massive hit to the body when he crashed on the lip of the halfpipe

The treacherous weather during the event, including fierce wind, created poor visibility and Kenworthy clearly felt the effects.

He suffered a huge hit to his body after crashing down on the lip of the pipe and following the final he admitted he was relieved to walk away unharmed.  

‘It wasn’t the run I wanted to do,’ he said, via EuroSport. 

‘Considering the conditions, I still had more that I wanted, but after that bad slam I am happy to be walking and land the run and getting through it in one piece.

Kenworthy crashed during his second run and admitted he was ‘happy to be walking’

He recovered to put in a solid performance in his final run to walk away with eighth place

‘It is a good show despite how gnarly it is out here.’

New Zealand’s Nico Porteous had been the hot favourite and as expected secured gold, while American duo David Wise and Alex Ferreira took silver and bronze respectively.

Although the 20-year-old was expected to win, Kenworthy still claimed that luck always plays a part in the sport. 

New Zealand’s Nico Porteous (centre) took Gold, while American duo David Wise (left) and Alex Ferreira (right) took silver and bronze respectively

‘In skiing, wind is the biggest factor we face,’ Kenworthy said. ‘Snow you can deal with, even if a course is not to your liking you can adapt, but when it is windy – especially when it gusts – it is out of your control and is a luck game.’

Kenworthy won Silver in Sochi in 2014 for the US but switched to represent Great Britain in 2019.

As he brought an end to a three-game career, he insisted he was ‘eternally indebted’ to the sport.

As Kenworthy brought an end to his career, he insisted he was ‘eternally indebted’ to the sport

‘Skiing has meant the whole world to me,’ Kenworthy said. ‘I started doing this when I was three.

‘My mom and I learned together. She was 41 and used to sing to me on the chair lift and I’d take naps in her lap and fall asleep and wake up at the top and do another run.

‘I am eternally indebted to this sport. I feel so grateful to be a part of it and to go to three Olympic games.’