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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Eddie Pells

An Olympic pin more precious than gold celebrates the late halfpipe pioneer, Sarah Burke

Milan Cortina Olympics Freestyle Skiing - (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Maybe the most precious pin at the Milan Cortina Games celebrates an athlete who helped lead an entire sport into the Olympics, but never got to compete herself.

Canada's late, great freeskier Sarah Burke was a pioneer in the women's halfpipe. She encouraged girls and young women to jump into what was, decades ago, almost exclusively a men's sport. Later, her lobbying was key to getting the event onto the Olympic program.

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