Canada's J.P. Roy undergoes ACL and meniscus surgery{mosimage}On February 10, 2005, on the occasion of the men's giant slalom at the 2005 World Alpine Ski Championships held in Italy, Jean-Philippe Roy from Ste-Flavie (QC), clocked the 3rd best time of the first run and was on his way to becoming the first Canadian male skier to claim a medal at the World Championships. But Roy's ambitions abruptly came to an end in the second run of the race when the technical specialist fell in the upper part of the course and injured his left knee.

Charging the second run with much determination and confidence, Roy was caught off guard by rougher conditions on a gate set in a steep section. The experienced skier fell on his inside ski and as he pressured on his downhill ski to recover, he was thrown over and twisted his knee.

As the race resumed, Roy was transported by helicopter to the Sondalo (Italy) hospital. There, a physician evaluated his knee and found his MCL to be stretched to the 2nd degree.

Roy was sent back to Canada on February 11 for a formal assessment of his knee. Doctors confirmed a torn ACL and a damaged meniscus in addition to a stretched MCL.

A surgery to repair Roy's ACL and meniscus was successfully completed early this week. Roy, who's previous serious injury was a broken wrist and thumb shortly after the 2002 Olympics, is expected to return to his hometown on Thursday to begin a physiotherapy program that will take him through the spring and into the summer months.

'I want my leg to be strong and 100% before I begin to train on snow'
explained Roy. ' I am confident it won't take very long to get back in my groove once I return to the hill.'

After a career best 5th place finish this season in the men's Alta Badia giant slalom, the 25 year old athlete will be looking to regain top form over the spring and summer months in order to rejoin the men's technical team for the August training camps.

Alpine Canada Alpin wishes JP a strong and prompt recovery.