Canadian freestyle skier Olivier Rochon suffers season-ending knee injury | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Canadian freestyle skier Olivier Rochon suffers season-ending knee injury

Canadian freestyle aerials competitor Olivier Rochon's season is over.

The Canadian Freestyle Ski Association announced Friday that Rochon, 24, suffered a season-ending torn left anterior cruciate ligament that will prevent him from competing in the Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, in February.

The resident of Gatineau, Que., suffered the injury Monday on a free run in Apex, B.C. According to the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association, Rochon lost his balance, hit a bump and then heard a pop in his knee.

"It was pure bad luck," Rochon said. "I will get through this.

"Next year are world championships and I plan on being on the podium."

Rochon has overcome adversity before. He was suspended from the national team in 2011 for bad behaviour and rather than brood about it, he returned to become the world's top aerials performer in '12.

Rochon captured a bronze medal in the season-opening World Cup event in China and was also fourth in the aerials test event for the 2014 Sochi Games. But he also had surgery in May to repair a hernia on his left side.

"He came back with the perfect balance," said coach Daniel Murphy. "A bit of bad boy craziness that keeps you in the sport, but more professional and precise with his training.

"It’s a disappointment but he's overcome so many things to get here I have no doubt he’ll be back in full training mode in no time."

Rochon is expected to meet with reporters next week.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2013
The Canadian Press

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