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Rich pulls off incredible feat with ruptured ACL

A few weeks ago, Jess Rich could barely walk. On Monday, the Aussie stuck both her landings in an against-the-odds effort at PyeongChang.

Rich opted to postpone knee surgery so she could compete in the snowboard big air event, despite rupturing her ACL in training last month.

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But in an incredible display of bravery, the 27-year-old refused to let her dream go as she came out firing at the Winter Olympics.

Rich delivered on the big air promise with an amazing opening effort in the first qualification stage - scoring 73.50 to sit in ninth place early on.

The best 12 competitors after two rounds of qualifying progress through to the final phase.

Rich braved a ruptured ACL to stick her opening big air jump. Pic: Ch7
Rich braved a ruptured ACL to stick her opening big air jump. Pic: Ch7

Unfortunately for Rich, many of her rivals upped the ante in their second runs - quickly bumping the Aussie outside of the qualifying positions.

The 27-year-old needed to better 76.25 to leapfrog the competitor in twelfth spot but could only manage 74.25 at the second attempt as her Games campaign came to an end.

Deemed at too great a risk for last week's snowboard slopestyle, Rich was cleared to compete in big air qualification and she certainly made the most of the chance.

Rich has three World Cup top-10s in the debut Olympic discipline but after the injury she had understandably tempered expectations ahead of competition.

"It is a significant injury that will require surgery once I have finished my event," Rich said before the event.

"It has taken me a few tries at the (medical clearance) test but I've finally passed and have a lot of confidence in my knee.

"Obviously my goals have changed after my injury and I'm not as competitive as I would like to be due to all the time I have had off snow.

"My goal now is to land the tricks I do and just to enjoy being at the Olympics."

On Monday, Rich achieved her goal at the first time of asking and against all odds.

Her country couldn't be prouder.