Ayumu Hirano Selected for Winter Games Amid Injury Concerns

Olympic halfpipe champion Ayumu Hirano has been named to Team Japan for the Milano Cortina ​Winter Games, despite ‍⁠suffering injuries ‍in a heavy crash in Switzerland on the weekend. The 27-year-old crashed during the ‍World Cup snowboarding event in Laax, exiting the competition ‌midway through the final with ​facial cuts ‌and lower body ‌pain. In addition to ​his ‌gold from Beijing, Hirano won halfpipe silvers in Pyeongchang and Sochi and will aim to become the first Japanese Winter Olympian to medal ‍in ‍four consecutive Games. Japan's ski association also ‍said Yuto Totsuka and Ruka Hirano would compete in the halfpipe. The ‌Winter Olympics run from February 6-22.