Olympic Injuries For US Athletes

Team USA downhill skier Tommy Biesemeyer (Keene, N.Y.) suffered a season-ending right ankle injury during downhill training on Wednesday. He was taken by team medical staff to a local clinic, where he was treated and released. He will not compete in the men’s downhill. His place in the race will be taken by Ryan Cochran-Siegle (Starksboro, Vt.).

For Biesemeyer, it was a heartbreaking injury on the eve of his first Olympic event.

"I wonder why this happens. It is hard to not think if there is a deeper meaning to it all. You are supposed to be optimistic in times like these and say something like, ‘I will come back stronger than ever.’ But I just can't bring myself to do it. I am honored to have been named to Team USA and walking in the Opening Ceremony is a moment I’ll never forget.”

The men’s downhill is schedule to start Thursday at 11:30 a.m. KT / 9:30 p.m. EST Wednesday. Scheduled to start for Team USA are Bryce Bennett (Squaw Valley, Calif.), Jared Goldberg (Holladay, Utah), Maple Wiley (Aspen, Colo.) and Cochran-Siegle.

Team USA snowboardcross athlete Rosie Mancari (Anchorage) is being treated for injuries to both her left and right ankles following a training crash at Phoenix Park Tuesday. She was taken from the scene to a local hospital where she was treated and released. She is not expected to be able to compete in the women’s snowboardcross event this Friday, February 16. Her start position would not be replaced.