Originally Posted by MichaelW
No, the wheel was fine but it transferred enough force to bend the forks up at the fork crown. If you consider how much force wheels absorb in a bunny hop, they are plenty strong enough.
Then I have(had) a misconception of what may happen during a crash. As I assumed that the wheel(rim) would be the first to go from a direct frontal impact. But considering that the wheels are supportive and resilient during the entire ride over all types of terrain, it makes perfect sense.