Unfortunate Team GB skiing star Woods suffers another Olympic blow in Beijing

By James Toney in Beijing

James Woods has been dealt another major blow at the Olympics.

The former world champion had high hopes for a medal in the freestyle skiing Slopestyle event, despite crashing out in qualifying for last week’s Big Air.

But his run of Olympic bad luck continued, eight years after Sochi when he arrived as red-hot favourite but suffered a hip injury in training to finish fifth, which he improved to fourth in PyeongChang four years ago.

“Eight years later to the day and once again in some uncanny, ironic, sadistic, joke of a coincidence I’m again full of pain killers and strapped up in bed the night before Olympic Slopestyle,” he wrote on Instagram.

“Unfortunately this morning my back completely seized up due to heavy landings throughout the Big Air event and Slopestyle practice and I’ve been unable to move freely or without pain all day.

“Obviously my head is screwed on straight and I have a rad team sensibly helping me get dialled.

“Tomorrow is another day and hopefully I wake up from a good sleep feeling ready for action. I will absolutely be out there and will give everything I can to shred my hardest.”

Woods finally won world gold in Utah three years ago, completing his set of medals after a silver in 2013 and bronze in 2017.

Despite mixed preparations, the 30-year old had expressed confidence he could perform on the big stage.

“It’s just so hard to believe that this is happening again, in Sochi it was my hip after a specific crash in practice but the feeling of un-readiness and doubt are all too familiar,” he added.

“I just wanted to record these thoughts and make a clear example to those who might possibly be inspired by what I do.

“Nothing is ever perfect, even when everything works out and you nail on all possible preparations, there are still challenges and hurdles to push through right up until the very last seconds. Chin up, focus and remember why you’re doing this. For me, I’m here because I want to be.”

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