Former Olympic champion Maelle Ricker to miss X Games with unspecified injury

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VANCOUVER – Canada’s Maelle Ricker will not compete at the upcoming X Games because of an unspecified injury.

The 2010 Olympic gold medallist in snowboard cross released a statement Tuesday saying that she’s taking time off to focus on training and recovery after suffering the injury in pre-season.

The 36-year-old from West Vancouver, B.C., didn’t compete at the recent world championships in Austria and will also sit out the X Games, which go this week in Aspen, Colo.

“I was really looking forward to competing at world championships and at the X Games this season,” said Ricker. “My plan is to return to competition and I want to be sure that I give myself the appropriate time for a full recovery.”

It’s been a frustrating 12 months for Ricker, who underwent surgery for a compound fracture in her left arm after a fall in training just weeks before the Sochi Olympics.

She was healthy enough to compete at the Games, but fell in the quarter-finals and failed to advance.

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