2010 Winter Olympic Athletes on the Injured List
Jan 25, 2010 | Posted by bryan | 0 Comments
Olympic Athletes on the Injury List
With the start of the 2010 Winter Olympics drawing so near, tensions run high for those still waiting it out on the injury list. Coaches, family and fans of these hottest Olympic athletes are hoping for a speedy recovery, but the risk of further, more permanent injury also hangs in the balance when it comes down to the final decision of whether to compete or not.
How Has Injury Affected Olympic Athletes in 2010
Severe injury has already kept Czech hockey star Dominik Hasek off the team roster for the 2010 Olympic Games, but for many others, the outlook is still unclear. Here’s a look at who is currently on the injury list and their competition status so far.
Will U.S. Ski Queen Lindsey Vonn Compete This Year
Very recently, it was reported by the Associated Press that U.S. ski queen Lindsey Vonn was injured during a World Cup Giant Slalom race, crashing on her first run and being taken to the hospital. She lost her balance in the course of the run, falling backwards and injuring her arm. It is still soon to determine her status in the 2010 Winter Olympic competitive lineup, but if history really does repeat itself, Vonn will most definitely pick herself back up and get in the game.
Canada’s Ski Team Hit Hard This Olympics
When it comes to injuries, Canada’s ski team (both men’s and women’s) have been hit particularly hard. Completely ruled out of the Olympics were men’s skiers Jean-Philippe Roy, who injured his right knee during a run at Val d’Isere in early December, as well as John Kucera, who fractured his leg in November. Kucera is a current downhill world champion, and showed a lot of promise for the upcoming Olympic Games. More recently, Larisa Yurkiw, of the Canadian women’s ski team, had a terrible fall during a downhill training session, which resulted in an injured left knee, ruling her out for the season. Yurkiw’s teammate Kelly Vanderbeek suffered a fall, also during a training run at Val d’Isere, in mid December, causing her to be taken away in a stretcher with her leg in a splint. There have been no further reports on whether Vanderbeek will be able to compete in the 2010 Olympics, but needless to say, her teammates retain high hopes.
Will U.S. Snowboarder Kevin Pearce Recover in Time
In late December, a U.S. snowboarder showing incredible Olympic promise was added to the injury list. 22-year-old Kevin Pearce suffered a severe head injury while making an attempt at a challenging halfpipe trick in Park City, Utah. He was knocked unconscious as he struck his head against the halfpipe wall and underwent surgery that same day. He is now in stable condition, but there has been no talk of whether he will be able to compete in the 2010 Winter Olympics. Pearce has been a highly anticipated Olympic competitor, as he is one of few who has ever beat fellow U.S. snowboard team member Shaun White in a head-to-head face off. Needless to say, his fans are rallying in support of a speedy recovery for Pearce.
With the pressure on, and the training pace dialed up to high gear as the Winter Olympic Games near, it is no wonder we have seen several athletes added to the injury list as of late. It is all fans can do to show their continued support and hold on to hope that their favorite Olympic athletes will heal in time to compete in the granddaddy of sporting competitions in February 2010.
For more articles about smoking hot athletes and much more please visit the Sports section on GKMen.