World champion Laura Peel crashes out in Winter Olympics aerials ’smash up derby’

Australia had two finalists in the women’s aerials final but brutal conditions have wreaked havoc in blustery conditions in Beijing.

Aussie aerials world champion Laura Peel has crashed out of the Olympic super final, landing on her back as she crashed out ultimately finishing fifth in brutal conditions.

One of the favourites for gold in the event as the two-time world champion, the weather wreaked havoc on the two-time world champion as she struggled under lights.

Peel landed a 104.54 jump in her only jump during qualifying and went straight through to the final.

Australia has a great record in aerials at the winter Olympics as Alisa Camplin and Lydia Lassila claimed gold in 2002 and 2010 respectively, while both also claimed bronze at their following Olympics’ as well, while David Morris claimed silver in 2014.

But as night settled, it became more difficult as Lassila on Channel 7 commentary said it was brutal conditions in the warm up before the event.

“I’m not going to sugar coat it,” Lassila said. “It’s been smash up derbies for this hour of training which is not what you want to see but maybe everyone’s just getting out the mess before the contest begins.

“At the end of the day they’re all in the same situation. Now, it’s about the next jump.”

Peel looked like she may have missed out on the final all together as well as she sat back in the snow, but her difficult saw her score 100.29, qualifying fourth for the super final.

But they were difficult conditions as she started her final run as the blusty conditions picked up and former Aussie aerials star Jacqui Cooper said: “It looked like it was a wind factor rather than a takeoff factor. So not human error here.”

Aerials is a brutal sport. Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP

Peel, who spoke to Seven after the event said she was “disappointed” by the result.

“I’m happy to see the way the women’s sport is progressing,” Peel said. “The podium was a lot more difficult than the last Olympics, so I think we’re moving in the right direction and I’m proud to have been a part of that.”

As for whether this is her final Olympics, she said: “I might need a little more than five minutes to think that one over.”

But the Aussies started horribly as both Scott and Peel’s first jumps were backslaps as they sat well outside the top six to qualify for the super final.

Scott went for a more difficult jump on her second attempt and landed on her back once again and was left visibly disappointed.

“My bad, sorry everyone,” Scott said. “Love you Australia.”

Speaking to Channel 7 after the event, Scott said: "It’s brutal out here. I tried to give it my everything, but, you know, it’s a lot of pressure and I really tried to put it all on the line, but I just was feeling a little off, I guess. You know, I started off well, but just not what I wanted.”

She added a message for Australia: “Love you guys. Thanks for watching. Thanks, Australia. Sorry I let you down. It hurts.”

Danielle Scott was devastated by the result. Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images

Earlier, Peel dominated in the qualifiers, scoring 104.54 to claim an automatic berth as the top qualifier, while Danielle Scott also scored 96.23 to qualify fourth.

They were freezing conditions in Beijing, after the event was originally scheduled for Sunday night but was postponed due to the weather when snow actually fell.

China’s Xu Mengtao claimed the goal, becoming the first Chinese winner in the event with a score of 108.61.

Defending champion Belarus’ Hanna Huskova was close behind on 107.95 while America’s Megan Nick finished with the bronze. Peel finished fifth.