Simmerling out of Olympics after ski cross World Cup crash that broke leg

CALGARY – Alpine Canada has confirmed that Georgia Simmerling suffered a tibia and fibula fracture to her left leg along with a tibia plateau fracture to her right leg during a ski cross World Cup on Saturday that will force her to miss the upcoming Pyeongchang Olympics.

The Vancouver native underwent surgery in Calgary, the governing body said in a statement on Sunday. A rod and screws were put in her left leg and screws were put in her right leg.

Simmerling crashed in her semifinal just before the last jump leading up to the finish line after winning her quarterfinal heat.

Simmerling, who was ranked fourth in World Cup standings heading into Saturday’s races, was loaded onto a toboggan and taken to hospital.

“You know injuries are a part of ski cross and it’s hard to avoid them,” Simmerling said in a release. “Unfortunately, I got injured at a pretty disappointing time in my season, right before the Games.

“I’m already wrapping my head around rehab, and going to tackle that like I take on anything: determined, with a little stubbornness and a lot of positivity.”

The official Canadian ski cross team will be announced on Monday.