Gangwon 2024: Day After Missing the Skiing Event, 14-Year-Old Prodigy Is Officially Ruled Out Of Youth Olympics

Before the Summer Olympics rings in, the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics is already setting standards high. With several class-apart performances from the young competitors, the upcoming Olympic days would be more adrenaline-fuelled. The multi-sport event of Gangwon 2024 being hosted in South Korea is no less than a carnival comprising various events, spectators from all around, and cultural festivities. But such a celebration is also not free from crestfallen tales.

As part of the Winter Olympics, freestyle skiing gives creative liberty to the athletes. The discipline includes slopestyle, half-pipe, big air, cross, and moguls. But these ski acrobatics involve an element of danger that obstructs the flight of the skiers. In the same vein, a teen icon with big, hopeful eyes met with misfortune in the Gangwon 2024.

Laetaz Amihan Rabe’s Gangwon 2024 winning run on hold

Hailing from the Philippines, Laetaz Amihan Rabe brought a good name to her nation on the first day of Gangwon itself. On January 19, 2024, when the Winter Olympics leg blew its trumpet, Rabe stood as the Filipina flag-bearer, being the sole athlete representative in the inaugural ceremony. But a recent update has left fans downcast, following her rule out from the competition. The doctors of the Wonju Severance Christian Hospital have shared that Rabe is unfit to partake in any skiing event right now. A while back, when the stellar Filipina almost crash-landed during practice, she faced an unforeseen left knee injury. Her recovery being midway, the health officials have not supported her competitive decision yet.

However, her family is noticing signs of healing. Rabe’s coach cum father Ric stated, “She (Rabe) needs to rest for four to six weeks because of her injury, but she’s doing fine”. Her first event, women’s slopestyle, was scheduled for January 24. But it doesn’t hold much importance to the 14-year-old now. Let’s take a look at her Gangwon journey.

Being the flag-bearer didn’t culminate but didn’t dim her spirit either

One of three Filipinos to have qualified for the Winter Olympics, Rabe stepped in Gangwon 2024 alongside short-track speed skater Peter Joseph Groseclose. But the latter’s events are scheduled later in the league. “I have already seen the park and it’s not as bad as I thought”, said she who dreamt of making a mark in the South Korean province.

READ MORE: First Ever Digital Flame Is Lit at Gangwon Youth Olympics 2024

Coached by her dad Ric, a Switzerland resident, Rabe started skiing at just 2 years old. Her first race win rolled in 2019 in the Glacier 3000. Being named in the 2023 Geneva Snow Sports Athletes roster was enough of an achievement for the Olympic aspirant. The one who had said “I have already seen the park and it’s not as bad as I thought”, hasn’t yet had the luck to beat her rivals.

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