Liam Gill to replace Derek Livingston in snowboard halfpipe on the Beijing 2022 Canadian Olympic Snowboard Team

BEIJING (January 31, 2022) – Canada Snowboard has announced that Derek Livingston (Aurora,Ont.) sustained a lower body injury during a recent training run and will no longer participate at Beijing 2022. Liam Gill (Calgary, Alta.) will fill the quota spot in men’s snowboard halfpipe. Gill, 18, will be the second-youngest member of the Canadian snowboarding contingent.

The rising halfpipe star will have his Olympic dreams come to life after quickly transitioning from alternate to Olympic athlete only days before the team charter left for Beijing. He is also the only indigenous athlete on the Canadian snowboard team, and will be proudly representing the Liidlii Kue First Nation at the Games.

“I woke up to the news and I didn’t know how to feel. Derek is an idol of mine who has pretty much brought me through the past few years. So when I thought about going to the Games I wanted to go with Derek. I had totally given up on any hope of going and hadn’t even packed my stuff. I am stoked to be going. I have a few runs up my sleeve and really want to make it count.”
– Liam Gill

“I’m devastated that I won’t be able to compete for Canada at the Olympics, but I’m super excited for Liam and can’t wait to watch my fellow Canadians at the Games! .”
– Derek Livingston

 
Liam Gill is joining 23 teammates who were nominated earlier this month. The 12 female athletes are the most-ever on a Canadian Olympic snowboard team.

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The full snowboard team list can be found in the Delegation Tracker.
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Josh Su
Team Canada's Beijing 2022 Press Operations Lead
Canadian Olympic Committee
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