BEIJING, China – Snowboard Canada has announced that snowboarder Derek Livingston suffered a lower body injury during a recent training run and will not be competing at the Beijing Games.
Livingston, who hails from Aurora, Ont., will be replaced by Albertan Liam Gill.
“It upsets me not to be competing for Canada at the Olympics, but I’m very happy for Liam and can’t wait to see my fellow Canadians in action! said Livingston, in a press release.
At 18, Gill becomes the second youngest member of the Canadian snowboarding delegation.
The rising halfpipe star will see his Olympic dreams come to life after quickly transitioning from substitute to Olympian, just days before the team’s charter flight leaves for Beijing.
He is also the only Aboriginal athlete on the Canadian snowboard team and will proudly represent the Liidlii Kue First Nation at the Games.
“I woke up to the news and I didn’t know what to feel. Derek is one of my role models and he has helped me rise through the ranks over the past few years. When I was thinking of going to the Games, I wanted to do it with Derek. I had completely given up hope of going there and hadn’t even packed my bags. I am very happy to go there. I have a few tricks up my sleeve and I really want my presence there to count,” said Gill.
