World champion John Kucera to miss Vancouver Olympics with broken leg

VANCOUVER Olympics poster-boy John Kucera is set to miss the 2010 Winter Games after breaking his leg at the Alpine Skiing World Cup in Lake Louise last weekend.

KUCERA OUT: World downhill champion John Kucera is out of the Vancouver Olympics after breaking his leg at the World Cup in Lake Louise (Getty Images)

The downhill world champion fell during an icy section of the Canadian track known as the Waterfall during the super-G competition, delaying proceedings for 20 minutes before a helicopter rescued him from the piste.

The 25-year old was one of Canada's top medal prospects for the Games but after surgery on both his tibia and fibia, a spokesman for the Canadian ski team confirmed the severity of the 25-year old's injury.

Canada's Manny Osborne Paradis eventually struck a surprise gold in Lake Louise for his first World Cup super-G win but admitted the weekend had been soured by his teammate's injury.

"It's fantastic to get the win," said Osborne-Paradis, who will know be one of the home nation's main hopes to break their medal duck in Olympic alpine skiing.

"I felt like I was getting better and better with each turn and I know I've got the ability to win it now.

"It's been a wonderful day but John's injury does overshadow things and we all wish him a speedy recovery."