Skier Sarah Burke Remembered in Heart-Shaped Olympic Tribute

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Sarah Burke smiles at the X-Games on Jan. 28, 2010.

Image: AP Photo/David Zalubowski/Associated Press

By Annie Colbert2014-02-21 02:58:32 UTC

Sarah Burke's memory lived on at the women’s ski halfpipe competition Thursday.

The Canadian freestyle skier pioneered the the halfpipe event, but died in January 2012 following an accident during a practice. Burke won four X-Games titles and was considered a favorite for gold at the event's Olympics debut in Sochi.

See also: 32 Glorious Faces of Olympic Victory

Before the halfpipe finals began, Sochi volunteers skied in the shape of a heart as a tribute to Burke and her impact on the sport.

Image: NBC

Burke's mother, Jan Phelan, also attended the women’s ski halfpipe competition. In a video tribute produced by NBC, Phelan described her daughter as "ferociously strong" and says she hopes that Sarah knows her hard work paid off.

Jan Phelan watches the women's ski halfpipe final.

Image: AP Photo/Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

The IOC denied snowboarder Torah Bright permission to wear a tribute sticker to Burke during the games, but her memory still managed to stay in the forefront. American Maddie Bowman spoke fondly of Burke after winning gold in the women’s ski halfpipe.

"I think her lasting legacy is to ski as hard as you can and love it," Bowman told an NBC reporter. "It takes all of us to fill her shoes."

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