Cuche stays on track for Olympics despite injury
Swiss Olympic medal contender Didier Cuche is expected to return to training for the Vancouver Games following surgery on a broken thumb.
The super-G world champion broke his right thumb during a World Cup giant slalom event on Friday, initially putting his participation at the Games in doubt.
In his second run at Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, Cuche hit the second-to-last gate with his right ski, fell and slid over the finish line.
An operation on Saturday aimed to stabilise the damage. In a statement the Swiss Ski Federation said Cuche would continue training using a special protective splint and should be taking part in the Games.
The 35-year-old Cuche is among the Olympic favourites at downhill, super-G and giant slalom. He has competed in three previous Olympics and won one medal so far – a silver in the super-G at the 1998 Nagano Games. He aims to become the oldest Olympic champion in men’s alpine skiing history.
The men’s downhill is the first Alpine skiing event in Vancouver on February 13.
Cuche has won a total of 13 World Cup titles – six in downhill, four in super-G and three in giant slalom.
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