Reigning Gold Medalist Drops Out Of Winter Olympics After Brain Injury

Ron Dicker
Updated

He just didn’t want to risk it.

Defending Olympic halfpipe gold medalist Iouri Podladtchikov announced he was dropping out of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, so he can heal from a head injury he sustained last month.

“My brain needs time to recover from the bruises and I will not be able to compete,” he wrote in a tweet posted Saturday.

Podladtchikov, nicknamed I-Pod, did practice Friday at Phoenix Snow Park, as seen here:

(Photo: David Ramos via Getty Images)
(Photo: David Ramos via Getty Images)

But the Swiss athlete felt something was amiss.

“After all the tests that I have had on the way to the present day in the last two weeks ― including my first practice this Friday ― I can say for sure that starting and participating in the Olympic Games is in no way safe or responsible,” he said in a statement.

The men’s halfpipe begins on Tuesday.

Podladtchikov captured gold at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and was returning as one of the favorites in South Korea. But a hard fall on his face at X Games Aspen, Colorado, in late January (see below) has ended his hopes of another gold medal.

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Dancers perform "The Land of Peace" segment.
Dancers perform "The Land of Peace" segment.
A spectacular light display.
A spectacular light display.
A makeup artist applies glitter to a performer backstage.
A makeup artist applies glitter to a performer backstage.
A tiger on stilts.
A tiger on stilts.
Olympic athletes from Russia's (OAR) parade during the opening ceremony. Banned from participating as representatives of Russia due to a doping scandal, they were required to wear neutral uniforms with no country designation.
Olympic athletes from Russia's (OAR) parade during the opening ceremony. Banned from participating as representatives of Russia due to a doping scandal, they were required to wear neutral uniforms with no country designation.
Flag bearer Erin Hamlin of the United States leads her team.
Flag bearer Erin Hamlin of the United States leads her team.
Fireworks.
Fireworks.
Flag bearer Pita Taufatofua of Tonga and teammates enter the stadium.
Flag bearer Pita Taufatofua of Tonga and teammates enter the stadium.
The Jamaican bobsled team made a grand entrance, dancing as they went.
The Jamaican bobsled team made a grand entrance, dancing as they went.
More fireworks.
More fireworks.
The North Korea and South Korea Olympic teams enter together under the Korean Unification Flag. A historic moment.
The North Korea and South Korea Olympic teams enter together under the Korean Unification Flag. A historic moment.
Another performance.
Another performance.
Snowboarder Shaun White and freestyle skiier Gus Kenworthy of Team USA.
Snowboarder Shaun White and freestyle skiier Gus Kenworthy of Team USA.
More dancers.
More dancers.
Light installations.
Light installations.
The Olympic torch burns.
The Olympic torch burns.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.