Canadian snowboarder to miss 2026 Olympic Games after serious injury

Canadian snowboarder and Olympic athlete Liam Brearley is pictured at Blue Mountain Ski Resort in this image. (Liam Brearley on Facebook)

Canadian snowboarder and Olympic athlete Liam Brearley says he will miss the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games after suffering a serious knee injury.

Brearley, 22, from Gravenhurst, Ont., injured his knee and ankle during training in November and has undergone surgery as part of his recovery.

The reigning world champion had secured qualification for what would have been his Olympic debut in February. “That’s a tough reality to accept,” Brearley said in a social media post. “Competing on that stage has been a lifelong dream, and missing it hurts more than I can put into words. I know setbacks are part of the journey, and I’m incredibly grateful for the support from my family, team, sponsors, management, and all of you — it’s meant everything during this time.”

After assessments by medical specialists and team staff, surgery was determined to be the best option for his long-term health and performance.

“The Olympics mean a lot, but so does having a long career ahead and continuing to compete for Canada,” Brearley said in a release. “This is just part of the journey.”

Brearley is Canada’s first men’s slopestyle world champion. He placed fourth at the Laax World Cup and fifth at Aspen, earned fourth place in his first X Games slopestyle appearance, and won the Spring Battle 2025.

“Liam is not only a world-class athlete, but a tremendous representative of Canadian snowboarding,” said Dustin Heise, CEO of Canada Snowboard. “While this injury is an unfortunate setback, his long-term health and future success are the priority. We have full confidence in his recovery and his ability to return stronger.”

Brearley said his focus is now on rehabilitation and returning to competition. “I’m not going anywhere, and I’m more motivated than ever,” he wrote. “Thank you for sticking with me.”

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CF Management, which represents Brearley, said it is working closely with his sponsors, coaches, and medical team to maintain consistent communication throughout his recovery.

Although he will not compete this season, Brearley will remain active through other opportunities, including a short documentary scheduled for release in January in partnership with X Games.

He is also expected to begin light on-snow progression in the spring as part of his monitored return-to-sport plan.

According to the Sport Information Resource Centre, the procedure was successful, and Brearley has already begun his rehabilitation program.