Injured Olympic snowboard medalist Karl doubtful for games

Published Dec. 9, 2017 3:55 p.m. ET

VIENNA (AP) Two-time Olympic snowboard medalist Benjamin Karl could miss the Pyeongchang Games after breaking a bone and tearing two ligaments in his right ankle in a training crash on Saturday.

The Austrian ski federation says it is doubtful whether Karl will return to the World Cup circuit before the end of the Olympic qualifying period on Jan. 21.

In the federation statement, Karl says, ''It hurts incredibly that this injury has occurred right now. I have been training extremely well in the last few weeks.''

Karl was hurt when the binding of his board opened during a practice run in Carezza, Italy, where the snowboard World Cup season starts on Thursday.

A four-time world champion, Karl won parallel slalom bronze in Sochi in 2014, four years after taking parallel GS silver in Vancouver.