1 December 2009 / REUTERS, LOUISE, ALBERTA
Canada’s downhill world champion John Kucera is in danger of missing next year’s Vancouver Olympics after breaking his leg in a high-speed fall on Sunday.
Kucera was airlifted from the Lake Louise course to a nearby hospital after crashing into the safety netting during the season-opening World Cup super-G, won by his team mate Manuel Osborne-Paradis. “John Kucera has a left leg fracture that will require surgery,” said Alpine Canada in a statement. There was no immediate comment on whether he would be able to compete at the Olympics, starting in February. The 25-year-old Kucera was regarded as one of his country’s top medal hopes for Vancouver and his injury overshadowed Osborne-Paradis’ first World Cup super-G win. “It’s amazing but just too bad this wonderful day has been overshadowed by John’s crash,” Osborne-Paradis said.
