HOUSTON – With all eyes on the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, athletes are gearing up to deliver jaw-dropping moments of speed, skill and courage.
But along with the thrills comes an unavoidable reality of winter sports: injuries are part of the game.
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Some Olympic events are simply riskier than others, and injury data from past Games shows clear patterns. High speeds, hard landings and close contact tend to drive the numbers up.
Here are the top Winter Olympic sports with the highest injury rates:
Ice hockey
This sport consistently tops the list. It’s fast, physical and played on unforgiving ice. Players collide at high speeds, slam into the boards and deal with sticks and skate blades flying around. Concussions, broken hands and facial fractures, shoulder dislocations and knee injuries are all common.
Alpine skiing
Especially downhill and Super-G, is another high-risk category. Athletes race down steep, icy courses at highway speeds, and when crashes happen, they can be violent. Knee ligament tears—especially ACL injuries—are frequent, along with fractures and head injuries.
Snowboarding
This sport, particularly halfpipe, slopestyle and snowboard cross, also sees high injury rates. Big air tricks, spins and hard landings increase the risk, and snowboard cross adds collisions between riders. Wrist fractures, ankle sprains, concussions and knee injuries are among the most common outcomes.
Freestyle skiing
This sport shares many of those risks. Huge jumps, rotations and unpredictable landings—often on hard-packed snow—can lead to serious crashes. Knee injuries, concussions and, in severe cases, spinal injuries show up regularly.
Short-track speed skating
This sport may look graceful, but it’s deceptively dangerous. Races happen at blistering speeds with skaters packed tightly together. Falls and pileups are common, and razor-sharp blades add the risk of deep cuts. Fractures and concussions aren’t unusual.
Sliding sports, bobsleigh, skeleton and luge
These events reach extreme speeds on banked ice tracks, and crashes can involve intense G-forces. Concussions, fractures and neck injuries are the biggest concerns.
Not every Winter Olympic sport carries the same level of risk. Events like curling, biathlon and some Nordic disciplines generally have lower acute injury rates. That said, even athletes in lower-risk sports deal with overuse injuries and wear-and-tear from long training seasons.
Across all disciplines, the same injury patterns tend to show up. Faster speeds mean harder impacts. Big jumps and awkward landings stress knees, ankles and spines. Head-to-head racing and contact increase collision risk. Sharp equipment, like skate blades and sticks, can cause serious cuts. And heavy training loads can lead to chronic injuries long before the opening ceremony.
Injury statistics can vary depending on how researchers count them, per athlete, per event or per day, but the trend is consistent. Contact sports, high-speed sliding events and aerial disciplines see the most injuries. Better reporting and stricter medical tracking at recent Games have also revealed injuries that once went unreported.
To reduce risks, organizers and athletes rely on several strategies. Equipment has improved, with better helmets, padding and sport-specific gear like wrist guards for snowboarders. Course designs are safer, with smoother landings and better-maintained tracks. Rule changes have limited dangerous contact in some sports. Training now focuses heavily on strength, balance and injury prevention—especially for knees. And on-site medical teams are faster and better equipped than ever, with strict concussion protocols in place.
For athletes, preparation is everything: smart training, proper warm-ups, protective gear and knowing when to push, or pull back, can make a difference.
For fans, understanding the risks helps explain why some events have stricter rules or safety measures. The danger is real, but so is the effort to keep these incredible athletes as safe as possible while they chase Olympic glory.