February 8, 2006
SESTRIERE, Italy (AP Press Release)—Canadian skier Erik Guay will miss the Olympic downhill Sunday because of a severely bruised calf. "There's no way I could make it, Guay said Wednesday. "I tried skiing this morning and had too much pain. I didn't think it was possible to compete on it.
Canadian team doctors will re-evaluate him next week ahead of the super-G on Feb. 18.
Guay bruised both calves badly during giant slalom training on Jan. 23 at Turrach, Austria. One has given him particular trouble and he cannot lean back in his skis without pain, causing him to miss last two weeks of World Cup racing due to a calf.
The 24-year-old was Canada's best hope in downhill. He had three podium finishes in December, collecting two medals in two days at Val Gardena, in Italy.
He also stunned the World Cup field by placing fifth in his first downhill on the notorious Hahnenkamm in Kitzbuehel last month. It took Guay just one training run to find a fast line down the treacherous Streif course to ski the best first-timer result by a Canadian at Kitzbuehel.
Guay tore the ligaments in his left knee two years ago and spent nine months recovering and rehabilitating.
Copyright © 2006 The Associated Press
