Winter Olympics 2026: What bizarre incident has been seen a few times at the Olympics? Sheng Haipeng becomes the latest
Updated 20/02/2026 at 15:24 GMT
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The Winter Olympic Games always tends to throw up unique moments. And we were served up another on Friday when the phone of an athlete flew from his pocket while he was competing. It happened to China's Sheng Haipeng and he completed his run now phoneless. While he waited for his scores for his run, he also waited for a marshal to hand his phone back to him.
Watch: Bizarre scenes as mystery item flies out of skier's pocket during halfpipe
Video credit: TNT Sports
We have seen plenty of weird and wonderful things at this year’s 2026 Winter Olympic Games.
But Friday’s action offered us perhaps one of the strangest happenings from the past few weeks.
During the second qualification runs of the men’s freeski halfpipe, Sheng Haipeng was making his first jump when his phone flew from his pocket.
"Another athlete losing their phone in midair. We’ve seen that a few times in the Olympics," TNT Sports commentator James Webb said.
"Someone needs to be the official ‘zip checker’ up at the top."
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Video credit: Alibaba
Sheng completed his run without his phone and while he waited for his scores, TV viewers were shown a replay of the Chinese athlete’s phone flying up in the air as he raced down the slope.
"Oh dear, hope it's OK," Webb said. "It's a white phone, it's just going to disappear into the snow. Fingers crossed the slippers will be able to fish that one up."
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Luckily for Sheng, stewards were able to locate his phone and deliver it back to him in one piece.
"Thank you very much," Sheng said as he received his phone, which appeared to be covered in snow, before checking to see if there was any damage.
Watch every event of Milano Cortina 2026 live on discovery+. Available across all subscription plans, starting at £3.99.
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