Alpine Skiing

Reigning world downhill champion John Kucera will not compete for Canada in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics after suffering a broken leg in Sunday's World Cup Super-G race, officials said.

The 25-year-old Canadian underwent surgery Sunday night at nearby Banff Mineral Springs Hospital after fracturing the tibia and fibula in his left leg.

"John Kucera is known as a ski racer with a determined approach to achieving his goals. We are confident that he will set about his rehabilitation process the same way that he has approached his career on the slopes," said Canadian ski team spokesman Max Gartner.

Kucera had his skis slip out from under him Sunday as he tried to negotiate a hairpin turn on the Fallaway part of the Super-G course on Lake Louise's Whitehorn Mountain. Canadian team doctors said he would need surgery on the broken left leg.

The race was delayed for about 30 minutes while Kucera was loaded into a basket and airlifted off the course by a helicopter which took him to the medical clinic at the base of the mountain.

Kucera won the downhill at last year's World Championships in Val d'Isere, beating out Swiss veteran Didier Cuche.

Kucera, who started from the 16th position Sunday, placed sixth in Saturday's first downhill of the season.

Kucera will have to undergo rehab following the surgery which puts him out of the Vancouver Winter Games in just 75 days.