Brazilian star Gabriela Fujimoto debuts on the global stage of ONE Championship with one clear goal in sight – gain the fifth highlight-reel finish of her career.
The 22-year-old opens her promotional account against Malaysian talent Jihin ‘Shadow Cat’ Radzuan in an atomweight tiff inside Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, Feb. 13.
Their three-round contest will be part of ONE Fight Night 40: Buntan vs. Hemetsberger II on Prime Video.
Fujimoto’s well-rounded arsenal makes her a dangerous fighter regardless of where the fight unfolds. Ahead of fight night, she’s confident that trait of hers will propel her to a victory over the Fairtex Training Center athlete.
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“I am a fighter who takes advantage of opportunities. I don’t prioritize a specific outcome, only capitalizing on what presents itself. My varied record reflects that,” she told ONE Championship.
“I believe this fight is wide open, but it will end before 15 minutes.”
A win for the young gun, who turns 23 on fight night, will instantly position her as a legitimate threat in the loaded women’s atomweight MMA division.
Filipina superstar Denice Zamboanga currently serves as the divisional queen, having been elevated to undisputed status after Stamp relinquished her spot atop the throne. Zamboanga captured the interim crown against Alyona Rassohyna in January 2025.
Jihin Radzuan expects an all-out war against Gabriela Fujimoto
Jihin returns to the ring in search of her first win in three outings. But ‘Shadow Cat’ knows getting her hand raised won’t be as straightforward as it seems.
The Malaysian star has done her homework on Gabriela Fujimoto and expects her to be a tough test inside the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
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“I can assure you, both of us are going to give our best. Of course, she wants to show her best performance since this is her debut, and I want to show my best to claim myself back in the winner’s column,” the 27-year-old told ONE Championship in a separate interview.
Jihin vs. Fujimoto is one of nine exciting battles set for ONE Fight Night 40, which will be available to active North American Amazon Prime Video subscribers, live in U.S. primetime, for free.
Puerto Rico’s Xander Zayas had perhaps the best eight-day period any boxer could ask for.
After defeating Abass Baraou in front of 12,000 of his hometown fans in San Juan on Jan. 31 to unify the WBA and WBO super welterweight titles, Zayas flew straight to San Francisco so he could rehearse with Bad Bunny for his Puerto Rico-inspired performance at Super Bowl LX’s halftime show this past Sunday.
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“Man, the day of [the Super Bowl] was a very big energy,” Zayas told Uncrowned’s “The Boys in the Back” show Tuesday, “not just from me but from everybody in the cast — all the dancers, all the models, all the actors. Even [Bad Bunny]. Everybody was just so amped up when we got there and were setting up. When we were waiting for the music to start dropping, everybody was just so anxious and ready to go, fired up. You could tell it was just an amazing atmosphere.
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“Being a part of it and being able to go to a couple of events, I got to meet some great people — J Balvin, Ronald Acuña, Lady Gaga,” Zayas continued. “I was actually surprised that most of these artists and big athletes knew who I was, [they] knew my name. Obviously, J Balvin — when I come up to him, he’s like, “Oh, you’re the fighter, right?” It was insane. Ricky Martin did the same thing. Ricky Martin, when he met me, he was like, ‘Man, you’re Xander Zayas, man. That’s amazing.’ It was insane. Great experience. It was beautiful to be part of such a historic event, and I can’t wait for what the future holds.”
Zayas signed a marketing deal with Bad Bunny’s Rimas Sports this past September to help him become a star. The partnership paved the way for Zayas to appear on a halftime show watched by more than 128.2 million viewers and experience a surge in popularity.
Zayas’ relationship with Bad Bunny was a much-needed move for the 23-year-old. As the youngest unified male world champion in boxing, Zayas is clearly succeeding inside the ring. The gate receipts for his latest fight with Baraou are expected to exceed $1 million, representing the vast local support he is receiving. However, Zayas’s unification bout with Baraou struggled to garner the interest it deserved on the wider stage.
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That is because two months prior to Zayas signing with Bad Bunny, his promoter, Top Rank, lost its broadcast deal with ESPN and has yet to replace it. As a result, Zayas’ fight with Baraou was streamed on Top Rank’s FAST channels. To make matters worse, the bout was forced to compete for coverage alongside the highly-anticipated Shakur Stevenson vs. Teofimo Lopez matchup, which took place at the same time, further reducing its presence.
Zayas already has two super welterweight world titles, and now he’s setting his sights on picking up the other two. WBC titlist Sebastian Fundora already has a fight with Keith Thurman locked in for March 28, however newly-crowned IBF champion Josh Kelly dethroned Bakhram Murtazaliev just hours before Zayas’ win over Baraou, perfectly aligning the pair’s fight schedules.
“What I do know is that [Top Rank has] already made a call to Matchroom [Kelly’s promoter] and team Josh Kelly because that’s who I want to face next,” Zayas said. “That’s what I told [Top Rank] that I wanted to do. I wanted to collect a third belt. So I know they did that. We’re waiting on a response from Josh Kelly’s team, and hopefully we can make something happen for the summer.”
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“Yessir [the goal is to be undisputed]. Again, just little by little, step by step — the next step hopefully is Josh Kelly. That’s what I want. That’s what he wants because he’s also said the same thing, so we’re both on the same page. Now it’s making sure that it gets done, and then after that, seeing what’s next, and hopefully Sebastian Fundora right after I win that belt.”
“[The Kelly fight] must be in the United States — neutral ground, kind of, for both of us,” Zayas added, “me being Puerto Rican and him being from England. I don’t think it’ll take place either in England or in Puerto Rico. But here in the United States is something that we can make happen, for sure.”
Kelly, from Sunderland, is keen on a fight at his football team’s stadium, Stadium of Light. He said after his win over Murtazaliev that his main preference was to fight at his home stadium next. An initial conversation has taken place between Matchroom and the club to stage a summer blockbuster event. Kelly is also interested in a clash with fellow Brit Conor Benn, but Benn is understood to be pursuing title options at welterweight. Kelly’s promoter also represents top 154-pound contender Jaron “Boots” Ennis.
A memorable UEFA Women’s Champions League season resumes this week with the first leg of the knockout phase playoffs, headlined by Arsenal’s attempts to defend their title and a batch of first-timers who hope to extend their stay in Europe’s top club competition.
The Gunners will face Belgium’s OH Leuven, who have become the Champions League’s Cinderella story during their first-ever stint in the competition proper. Leuven went undefeated against a handful of well-regarded sides during the league phase, proving their worth against some Champions League regulars in the process. How they match up against one of the game’s elites in Arsenal, who are in the midst of a resurgence after a poor start to the season, is another question entirely, though.
Fellow UWCL newcomers Manchester United also return to action with a tie against Atletico Madrid, one that will offer a litmus test of their progress in the midst of a memorable season. Two-time Women’s Champions League winners Wolfsburg, meanwhile, will take on six-time Italian champions Juventus and the fixture list is rounded out by Real Madrid’s faceoff with Paris FC.
The winners of these ties await meetings with Barcelona, OL Lyonnes, Chelsea and Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals after that quartet secured direct passageway to the final eight with a top four finish in the league phase.
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Here’s what you need to know before tuning in.
How to watch
Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network will each be a one-stop shop for the first leg of the Women’s Champions League knockout phase playoffs, with both platforms simulcasting all coverage and every minute of the action. Coverage will begin with a new edition of the UEFA Women’s Champions League Today pre-match show before the early match, while studio coverage resumes in between matches and concludes with the post-match show to recap the action on Wednesday and Thursday.
UEFA Women’s Champions League bracket
Knockout phase playoffs first leg schedule
All times U.S./Eastern
Storylines for the knockout phase playoffs
Are Arsenal turning things around?: The reigning European champions got off to a slow start this season, so much so that they missed out on a direct berth to the Champions League quarterfinals and currently sit outside the top three in the Women’s Super League as things stand, meaning qualification for next season’s competition is no sure thing. They may have officially corrected course, though – they have just one loss in their last 14, a stretch that includes lifting the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup. The list also includes impressive wins over Chelsea and Women’s Super League leaders Manchester City in recent weeks, a signal that the Gunners might be peaking at just the right time as the business end of the European season begins.
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They have an intriguing obstacle in front of them in OH Leuven, the Belgian side that have become everyone’s favorite underdog and reached the knockouts in their first-ever Champions League season. They went unbeaten against Paris FC, Twente, Roma and Paris Saint-Germain but their two losses in the league phase might be telling. Defeats to Barcelona and Arsenal, who breezed through a 3-0 win on Matchday 6, indicate that Leuven may still be a step behind the elites of the game.
Can Manchester United keep going?: Manchester United have been on a steady upward trajectory since they were officially founded in 2018, a path that has allowed them to reach new heights this season. They currently sit second in the WSL, eight points adrift of league leaders Manchester City but rising above the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal in the process, and finished just one point short of a direct berth in the UWCL quarterfinals, returning to their first-ever European season as a true dark horse. Their knockout phase playoff tie against Atletico Madrid, though, will test them in more ways than one as United continue a memorable season.
United got the better of Atleti in a 1-0 win on Matchday 2 thanks to a goal from Fridolina Rolfo, who has been a boon since her summer move from Barcelona. Rolfo has three goals for United in the Champions League so far, doing her best to contribute to a goal-shy attacking unit that scored just seven times during the league phase. United are also one of three teams that qualified for the knockouts with a negative goal differential, though U.S. women’s national team goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce will be counted on to come up big. Atleti, though, have their own attacking star in Spain international Fiamma Benitez, who has four goals in the UWCL this season. The Spanish side also have the benefit of experience – they have four of their last five two-legged ties in UEFA competition, while United have one win and one loss, a signal of their lack of experience at this level.
Jake Paul’s business partner and co-founder of MVP Promotions, Nakisa Bidarian, has highlighted three possible options for the internet star’s next outing.
Prior to the finish, Paul had spent most of their fight in survival mode, doing his best to evade each of Joshua’s attacks while repeatedly throwing himself to the canvas.
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Given the terrific size difference between them, though, Paul could perhaps be forgiven for not wishing to engage with his hard-hitting opponent.
He is, after all, far from a natural heavyweight, and with such limited professional boxing experience, too, it seems that he has now made the wise decision to move back down to 200lbs.
Since then, the pair have expressed varying degrees of interest in a potential rematch, which MVP promoter Bidarian has named as a fight that ‘should be made.’
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Speaking with Boxing Social, Bidarian discussed the likelihood of Fury-Paul 2 while, at the same time, mentioning Viddal Riley and Darren Till as possible opponents.
“The most obvious [opponent] is Tommy Fury – that’s a fight that should be made if Tommy is reasonable, in terms of what the terms are of the fight.
“But I think Viddal Riley’s an interesting fight; I think Darren Till’s an interesting fight. Those three names come to mind as interesting fights.”
British champion Riley and would be considered an almighty favourite against Paul, with his most notable wins having come against Cheavon Clarke and Mikael Lawal.
Former UFC fighter Till, meanwhile, is perhaps a more favourable option for Paul, given that their levels of boxing experience are not exactly worlds apart.
Feb 4, 2026; San Francisco, CA, USA; Tom Pelissero on the NFL Network set at the Super Bowl LX media center at the Moscone Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
This is not a secret: the Minnesota Vikings will onboard a new quarterback this offseason, either to support J.J. McCarthy as a veteran backup or compete for his job at training camp. And thanks to NFL Network‘s Tom Pelissero, an early list is reportedly on the table, including Kirk Cousins, Mac Jones, Kyler Murray, and Geno Smith.
Pelissero’s list puts Cousins, Jones, Murray, and Smith in the Vikings’ orbit as Minnesota weighs its big quarterback decision.
It’s not a list from heaven, but Minnesota could do much worse.
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Pelissero’s List Illuminates Minnesota’s Quarterback Plan
The quarterback position takes center stage early in the Vikings’ offseason.
Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins surveys the field late at Bank of America Stadium during a road matchup, operating Minnesota’s offense in the fourth quarter on Oct. 1, 2023, as the game tightened in Charlotte. The moment captured Cousins managing pressure and clock while the Vikings pushed for a finish against Carolina. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports.
Kirk Cousins
If Cousins’ return to Minnesota is a genuine possibility, the central question becomes not whether it happens, but what role he would fill.
Cousins was an undisputed QB1 for years, but that’s no longer the case. A reunion would be complex, and Kevin O’Connell would face three options: immediately install Cousins as the Week 1 starter, allow him to compete with J.J. McCarthy, or use him as a strictly backup option — the same insurance role he was projected for in Atlanta in 2025.
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In 2023, his last season as Minnesota’s starter, Cousins ranked fifth in the NFL among quarterbacks in EPA per play. In 2024, that number plummeted to 30th out of 35 qualifying passers. Any assessment must consider his torn Achilles from a few years ago; projecting Cousins’ performance in 2026 demands more realism and less nostalgia.
The primary allure of a return lies in the financial aspect. Because the Falcons have essentially already paid Cousins — handsomely — for 2026, his next contract will likely be a bargain. That changes the discourse significantly. The cap-related frustration that followed him from 2018 to 2023 disappears if his salary aligns with that of a backup.
If affordability eliminates the resentment that once surrounded Cousins, will parts of the fanbase that rejected him at his previous price now embrace him at a discount — especially if his role is flexible rather than guaranteed? Who knows.
Mac Jones
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The main item surrounding Jones’s 2026 plans isn’t if he can start in the NFL, but what it would cost to acquire him.
In 2025, Jones started eight games for San Francisco, leading the 49ers to a 5–3 record. Extrapolated to a full season, those numbers project to 4,570 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and a 69.6 percent completion rate. That’s Top 15 QB stuff.
Those statistics are also comparable to Sam Darnold’s 2024 season, the same year Minnesota finished 14–3. Neither Jones’s recent game film nor his efficiency metrics suggest he would suddenly regress in Minnesota.
San Francisco is positioned to capitalize on the desperation of quarterback-needy teams via trade, and Minnesota must decide if it will enter the Jones sweepstakes. Jones is a good fit for many teams. Ultimately, interim general manager Rob Brzezinski must decide if sending 1st- or 2nd-Round pick to The Bay — or something similar — is worth it.
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Kyler Murray
Murray’s talent is evident, regardless of other options.
Over seven seasons, his EPA+CPOE numbers exceed those of Baker Mayfield, C.J. Stroud, Trevor Lawrence, and Daniel Jones — all quarterbacks currently projected to start in 2026. That established efficiency isn’t negotiable, even though some Vikings fans are oddly hesitant about Murray to Minnesota.
Arizona’s situation strengthens Murray’s case for change. With a new head coach, the Cardinals seem ready to move on after seven years and just one playoff appearance with Murray. The man could be traded any day or released in March.
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Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray prepares on the sideline at State Farm Stadium before kickoff, pulling on his helmet prior to facing Atlanta on Nov. 12, 2023, in Glendale. The pregame scene showed Murray locked in as Arizona finalized plans and personnel ahead of a home matchup under bright desert lights. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images.
Considering only realistic possibilities, Murray quickly emerges as a top candidate. Based on his career production and status as the No. 1 overall pick in 2019, he represents the best quarterback Minnesota could realistically acquire this offseason, barring improbable trades involving players like Joe Burrow or Lamar Jackson.
Murray has everything going for him on any given Sunday — aside from height — passing accuracy, arm strength, speed, mobility, and experience.
Geno Smith
Smith’s extensive resume sets him apart from many quarterbacks available this offseason, making him an attractive option for teams that want stability and insurance.
Since 2013, Smith has started 98 games, with his teams compiling a 42–56 record along the way. He averages roughly 203 passing yards per game, with a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 124 to 89, and has added 12 rushing touchdowns.
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Raiders quarterback Geno Smith watches the sideline at NRG Stadium during a road contest, tracking communication as Las Vegas faced Houston on Dec. 21, 2025, in Texas. The in-game moment reflected Smith assessing adjustments and flow while the offense navigated a challenging environment away from home under prime-time conditions. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images.
Seattle’s decision to name him their starter in 2022 revitalized his career, as Smith seized the opportunity, delivering a breakout season with 4,282 passing yards and 30 touchdowns. He retained the role for three seasons before joining the Raiders via trade, which propelled the Seahawks to a Super Bowl win after signing Sam Darnold in 2025 free agency.
However, Smith’s tenure in Las Vegas appears short-lived. With the Raiders widely expected to draft Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza using the first overall pick in April, Smith could be traded or demoted. Should he seek a new team, Minnesota is a decent landing spot for all parties.
It’s worth noting that Smith will turn 36 in October.
Liam Rosenior said it was a “bitter pill to swallow” after Chelsea threw away a two-goal lead to allow Leeds to leave Stamford Bridge with a 2-2 draw.
A dominant display from the Blues which had them coasting to a fifth straight Premier League win through goals from Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer’s penalty suddenly gave way to chaos midway through the second half.
Lukas Nmecha halved the arrears from the penalty spot before a remarkable passage of play in which Jayden Bogle singlehandedly paralysed Chelsea’s defence allowing substitute Noah Okafor to tap into an empty net.
It had looked like being another step forward for the hosts who have been steadily growing into an exciting, watchable outfit under their new head coach.
Their abrupt collapse though pointed to a fragility in the face of setbacks that appears no closer to a resolution, as two points slipped away.
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“Two key moments in the game that we don’t take care of,” said Rosenior. “We don’t stay calm. How the play gets there, we make a few poor decisions in the way we press and we give away a penalty.
“I can’t remember Leeds having a shot or a moment in the game. Some of our football in possession, our press and our energy was everything I wanted to see. That makes it even more of a bitter pill to swallow that we haven’t won the game.”
Leeds’ equaliser owed as much to Bogle’s tenacity in outmuscling Chelsea’s defence as it did to the Blues’ own hesitancy in dealing with the danger, though Rosenior believed his team should have had a free-kick.
“The lad handballs it,” he said. “It affects my players in that moment, they think it’s a handball, they switch off, we don’t clear the ball and they score. Then for 25 minutes it was wave after wave of attack.”
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Under Rosenior there have been encouraging signals of a more dynamic approach to possession that has made Chelsea more threatening, and here again the ball moved with urgency, particularly through midfield where his side constantly seemed to outnumber Leeds.
In the end, it counted for little as old frailties were once more brought to the fore.
“We have to make sure we take care of moments and be professional,” said Rosenior. “It’s not about reacting to setbacks. You’re always going to have a spell in they game when you’re not on top. The ridiculous thing for us is that they’ve managed to score two goals in a five-minute period when for the other 90 minute we were by far the better team.”
Leeds boss Daniel Farke, whose team have lost just twice in their last 13 in the league going back to December’s 3-1 win over the Blues, reflected that there was much for his players to take pride in.
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“A proper night of football,” he said. “A great night for everyone involved with Leeds United. I’m very proud of the players. Such a fightback.
“We have a never-say-die attitude. We have a self-belief that whatever happens we can always come back.
Second-year guard Stephon Castle suffered a pelvis contusion against the Los Angeles Lakers and was ruled out for the remainder of the game at the beginning of the third quarter. The Athletic’s Jared Weiss reported that X-rays on the injury came back negative.
Castle, 21, appeared to sustain the injury when he went up to block a Rui Hachimura dunk in the second quarter. He fell hard to the floor and was spotted grabbing his lower back on the way to the locker room.
The UConn product had two points and seven assists in 11 minutes against the Lakers before being forced to exit.
Castle entered Tuesday’s contest as the Spurs’ third-leading scorer, averaging 17.1 points per game. He also leads the team in assists, dishing out 7.0 per game.
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The Spurs sit second in the Western Conference with a 36-16 record.
According to Paananen, the real-time strategy mobile game saw 500% increase in new players, and “every major measure of playtime and engagement grew significantly.” The Finnish personality attributed these positive growth metrics to the Supercell team members’ “relentless focus on making things better for players.”
Sketch took to X on the same day (February 10, 2026) to express his dissatisfaction with Supercell for not recognizing Jynxzi’s role in making Clash Royale popular in 2025.
Claiming that he was “done letting” Jynxzi “be humble,” Sketch wrote:
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“Not touching @ClashRoyale again until @supercell acknowledges Jynxzi’s impact. Disgusting to act as if a dev changed a game that’s been the same for years. @jynxzi I’m done letting you be humble. From Clash, RL & R6 YOU revived those games. The only creator to do so AND include the community of those games. While also bringing in even more creators‼️ You change lives and deserve RECOGNITION and COMPENSATION. NUMBERS DONT LIE‼️‼️‼️ THE JYNXZI EFFECT IS REAL, PAY THAT MAN 🗣️ 🗣️ 🗣️ @supercell”
MrBeast, Lacy, and more streamers react, as Jynxzi says Supercell’s recent statement about Clash Royale’s popularity is “probably the biggest spit in the face he has ever seen”
On February 10, 2026, Jynxzi shared a screenshot of Ilkka Paananen’s blog post from the same day, where Supercell CEO described 2025 as “a historic year” for Clash Royale.
Jynxzi claimed the game developer’s comments were “probably the biggest spit in the face he had ever seen,” and posted:
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Jimmy “MrBeast” responded, saying that he started playing Clash Royale again “only because” of Jynxzi:
“I only started playing again because of you” MrBeast wrote.
Several prominent Twitch streamers, including Nick “Lacy,” Din “Agent 00,” and Jack “CouRage,” commented on the 24-year-old’s social media post:
“there is a serious problem with gaming companies not recognizing us creators when we are a pivotal piece in reviving the games” Lacy wrote.
“Ngl I thought they gave you equity from how hard you were pushing it 😭😭 they owe you some millions” Agent 00 wrote.
“I only watched/engaged with Clash Royale content because of you. It was honestly the most interested I’ve ever been with the game in its life cycle.” CouRage wrote.
Supercell has not addressed the backlash from streamers and content creators, as of this writing.
The American luger became emotional when she checked the scoreboard and realized she earned her first Olympic medal. Her performance in the women’s luge singles on Tuesday also marked just the second time an American has won an Olympic medal in the event.
Farquharson, who started sliding as an after-school activity when she was growing up in Park City, Utah, said it was almost hard to believe what she had accomplished.
Ashley Farquharson of United States reacts after her run during women’s single luge during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Cortina Sliding Centre in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy on Feb. 10, 2026. (Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters via Imagn Images)
“It really didn’t feel real,” Farquharson said after her victory. “And then everyone meeting me on the ice, and the whirlwind it’s been since then has really cemented it. For a couple seconds when I was coming up the outrun, I was like, ‘that’s not real.’”
Germany’s Julia Taubitz took the gold medal, winning by almost a full second, a monster margin in luge. Latvia’s Elena Bota was second, matching her country’s best Olympic result.
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Until Farquharson’s feat, Erin Hamlin was the last American to earn a bronze medal, doing so at the 2014 Sochi Games.
Ashley Farquharson of Team United States starts the Women’s Singles Run 1 on day three of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Cortina Sliding Centre on Feb. 09, 2026 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.(Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
“This was the dream,” Taubitz said. “And now the dream comes true.”
Farquharson didn’t medal in any of her first 54 World Cup races before finally breaking through this season.
She wasn’t the fastest, but she was more than good enough. She’s an Olympic medalist. Farquharson’s ability will never be questioned again.
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“Super happy for Ashley, very happy for USA Luge,” longtime U.S. teammate Emily Fischnaller said. “I mean, we are the ones on the sled, but there’s a team behind us with everything that we do. So, that’s just a testament to all the work that everyone has put into it.”
Bronze medallist Ashley Farquharson of United States celebrates after women’s single luge during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Cortina Sliding Centre on Feb 10, 2026 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.(Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters via Imagn Images)
Luge is a sport in which athletes slide on their backs on sleds down an iced track at high speeds.
Fischnaller was 12th for the Americans in 3:33.035, falling from fifth after three runs following trouble in her final heat. Summer Britcher of the U.S., a two-time World Cup race winner this season and now a four-time Olympian, was 14th in 3:33.553.
Australian snowboarder Cam Bolton was airlifted to Milan after breaking his neck in a training crash.
The 35-year-old, competing at his fourth Winter Olympics, fell during a snowboard cross training session on Monday in Livigno.
He initially walked away from the crash but woke up the next day with worsening pain in his neck. Scans later revealed two fractures, and Bolton was transported by helicopter from the mountain for further treatment.
Team chef de mission, Alisa Camplin, said Bolton was in good spirits despite the severity of the injury and had been joined by his wife.
“Cam wanted to make his teammates understood what was happening and that he was fine and doing well and being looked after well,” she said.
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“He knows how seriously we’re taking the process of support around him and the communication has been really good. I’m proud of the level of care.”
Bolton took silver in the mixed team snowboard cross with Mia Clift at last year’s world championships in Engadin, Switzerland.
The Australian Olympic Committee said it had enacted the Late Athlete Replacement option, bringing Olympic debutant James Johnstone onto the team alongside Adam Lambert and Jarryd Hughes for the men’s snowboard cross qualifying on Thursday.
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Cameron Bolton of Team Australia wins the silver medal, Mia Clift of Team Australia wins the silver medal during the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships Day 13 on March 29, 2025 in Engadin, Switzerland (Getty Images)
The injury is the fourth setback for Australia’s team at the Milano Cortina Games. Aerials medal favourite Laura Peel injured her knee at a pre-Olympic training camp, while young freeskier Daisy Thomas also hurt her knee in a fall and has withdrawn from slopestyle, though she remains hopeful of contesting big air.
Snowboard halfpipe rider Misaki Vaughan was ruled out of her Olympic debut after failing a head injury assessment following a training fall. Under team protocols, the 20-year-old cannot compete for at least seven days.
“Unfortunately with winter sport injuries happen along the way, in 53 athletes doing relatively high risk sports it’s not something that’s unusual I’m afraid to say,” Ms Camplin said.
“My heart breaks on their behalf – I know how much work goes into an Olympic dream.”
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Loan Bozzolo of Team France. Cameron Bolton of Team Australia and Valerio Jud of Team Switzerland during the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships in 2025 (Getty Images)
Bolton was Australia’s highest-placed men’s snowboard cross rider at the Beijing Games, finishing 13th. He also placed ninth in the inaugural mixed team event alongside Belle Brockhoff.
There was better news on the slopes for defending Olympic champion Jakara Anthony, who topped moguls qualifying in Livigno to extend her unbeaten Games run to five rounds of competition. The 27-year-old, who claimed Australia’s first women’s moguls gold in Beijing, said she was satisfied with her opening performance.
“My goal was just that I wanted to get through in qualification one so that I just have the chance to come out for finals tomorrow and I don’t need to worry about qualification two,” Anthony said. “So, yeah, happy.”
