Figure Skating

Former world figure skating champion Brian Joubert is on the mend after undergoing foot surgery, his coach Laurent Depouilly said on Tuesday.

Joubert, who last month won the NHK Trophy in Japan, suffered the injury in training a week ago and was forced out of the ISU Grand Prix final in Tokyo from December 3-6.

But Depouilly said the 25-year-old Frenchman was on the road to recovery as he bids to be fit for the Winter Olympics in February.

"Everything is going well. Brian is still resting. He's on the road to recovery. The swelling has gone down on his foot compared to after the operation," said Depouilly.

Joubert suffered a similar injury in February 2007, again in training, but needed just four days on the sidelines on that occasion.

He then went on to lift the world title a month later.

"The rate of recovery is better than the last time in 2007," his coach said. "Now his big toe is bothering him more than the injury itself but his morale is good."