Swiss snowboarder Iouri Podladtchikov tore an ACL at the world championships on Saturday, less than 11 months ahead of his Olympic title defense in PyeongChang.
Podladtchikov, known as I-Pod, suffered the injury falling hard on his knee and head in his last of three runs in the final in Sierra Nevada, Spain. Podladtchikov ended up with silver behind Australian Scotty James at an event skipped by Shaun White.
“I gave it everything I could in this competition, and that was the right attitude. There is always a risk to get injured, being a sportsman you have to accept this,” Podladtchikov said, according to the International Ski Federation (FIS). “There is a reason for this injury as there is one for everything. I will subordinating everything to my preparation for the next Olympics. I’m already grateful for all the empathy and nice words, and I’m looking forward to be back together with my team.”
Podladtchikov, 28, required ankle surgery in November 2014 but was able to return for that season’s X Games and world championships.
Podladtchikov has not won a major contest since his Olympic title in Sochi. He was third, 12th and 10th at the last three X Games and fourth at the 2015 World Championships.
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