This past Sunday, another tragic incident took place during the Olympic events in Milan-Cortina.
Finnish skier Elias Rajnen took a severe fall, landing hard on his back during the freeski big air qualifying for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Livigno. The impact knocked him unconscious, and he was left face down on the ice for a few tense moments while medical personnel hurried to his side.
Fortunately, Rajnen managed to get back on his feet and even gave a thumbs up to the spectators, indicating he was okay. Eventually, he was carried off on a stretcher amidst applause from the crowd.
Reports indicate that Rajnen sustained injuries on the right side of his face, but Finnish media outlets have shared that he is “doing well.” A thorough examination showed no significant injuries, although he spent the night in the hospital for observation.
The 18-year-old, son of three-time Olympic gold medalist Sampa Rajnen, was expected to make his Olympic debut in 2026. Earlier in the competition, he participated in the slopestyle preliminaries but placed 18th and did not qualify further. His crash on Sunday meant he could not compete in the third qualifying round for the big air event, effectively dashing his chances for a medal.
Alongside Rajnen, fellow Finnish athletes Elias Silja and Kula Koivisto also competed in the same qualifying round but did not advance to the finals. Contrastly, USA’s Mack Forehand is currently leading with 183.00 points and will compete for gold in Tuesday’s final.
Finland’s failure to advance any skiers into the big air final has resulted in the country sitting in 23rd place at the 2026 Olympics, with only three bronze medals to show for their efforts, earned by Svi Minkinen in biathlon, Eero Hirvonen in Nordic combined, and the women’s cross-country relay team.
2026 Winter Olympics
On the overall leaderboard, Norway is in first place with 26 medals, including 12 golds, followed by Italy, the Netherlands, and the United States, with eight, six, and five golds respectively.
The 2026 Games have been somewhat disappointing for the United States, with top athletes like Ilya Marinin and Chloe Kim failing to secure gold. Yet speed skater Jordan Stoltz has captured two gold medals, placing him in the mix for further accolades.
Still, Finland’s situation hasn’t improved much since Rajnen’s accident.
