Olympic champion Ma毛lle Ricker has her sights set on the start line at the 2014 Winter Games after what officials called successful surgery to repair a compound fracture in her left forearm.
In a statement issued by Canada Snowboard on Friday (Jan. 31), officials said X-rays taken in Vail, Colo., revealed a more serious injury than first had been considered. Ricker suffered the injury while training on Tuesday (Jan. 28) in Aspen, Colo.
The surgery couldn't have gone any better and we're extremely pleased with the outcome, said Dr. Jim Bovard, Canada Snowboard medical director.
The 麻豆社国产native planned to return home for rest and rehabilitation. She is currently in a half-cast, but Ricker and team officials remain optimistic that she'll be able to compete for Team Canada in the Olympics. She plans to depart for Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 8. The women's snowboard cross event takes place Feb. 16.
My goal is to be ready for the start gate in Sochi but I'll definitely hate pulling out of it, said Ricker, referring to the handlebars that snowboard cross athletes grip to pull themselves from the gate. I've had a lot of injuries in my career and it's important to stay positive and focus on the privilege of competing for Canada at the Olympics.
