Olympic snowboarder breaks neck in crash during training days before competition
Britt Jones
Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/David Ramos
An Olympic athlete has broken his neck in a scary accident just before he was set to compete for the Australian snowboard team in the Winter Games.
Cam Bolton, 35, was training in Livingno, Italy, on Monday (February 9), when he fell ‘heavily’. According to The Independent, the athlete was practising ahead of the 2026 Olympics in Milan, Italy.
Bolton was set to compete in Livigno on February 12 but has now been replaced by James Johnstone.
This would have been his fourth Winter Olympics, but his hopes of riding the slopes have been dashed as scans revealed he had fractured his neck in two places.
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According to ABC, he had been taken off the mountain by helicopter to a treatment center in Milan, but is ‘doing well’, says Australia's Chef de Mission for Milano Cortina 2026, Alisa Camplin-Warner.
“Cam wanted to make [sure] his teammates understood what was happening and that he was fine and doing well and being looked after well,” said Camplin-Warner.
“He knows how seriously we’re taking the process of support around him and the communication has been really good. I’m proud of the level of care,” she added.
The Australian Olympic Team confirmed his injury in a post on Instagram, wishing him well and a swift recovery.
It read: “Our hearts go out to Cam & Misaki. Cameron Bolton (Snowboard Cross) and Misaki Vaughan (Snowboard Halfpipe) have been injured in training and forced to withdraw from the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
“We wish them well in their recovery and hope to see them out on course again soon.”
Camplin-Warner went on to explain how difficult it is to compete, and that it’s a dangerous job to be part of.
She said: "Unfortunately, with winter sport, injuries happen along the way, in 53 athletes doing relatively high risk sports it's not something that's unusual I'm afraid to say.
"My heart breaks on their behalf - I know how much work goes into an Olympic dream."
Another injury that rocked the Olympics was that of Lindsey Vonn, who was airlifted off the course on February 8 after crashing on the slopes, having ruptured her ACL days earlier.
The sports star could be heard screaming before she was rushed to hospital.