Finland's ski jumping superstar-back from retirement-Janne Ahonen has been hospitalized tonight according to the FIS ski jumping web site. Ahonen, a native of Lahti, Finland is one of the most successful ski jumpers of all time.

Ahonen, who has been struggling with a continuing fever, which took him out of last Sunday's World Cup jumping event in Lillehammer, Norway, was admitted to Lahti's Paeljaet-Haeme Hospital today. One additional source, the Finnish TV network MTV 3, confirmed that Ahonen had a fever of 39 degrees. He was also reported to have told MTV3, that he had a sore throat and muscle pain, "so he could hardly move," the network was quoted as saying.

The FIS website also reports that "a test for swine flu was negative, but the Finn is still being treated with Tamiflu currently.''

Ahonen, sometimes known as the "King Eagle", announced his intention to retire on March 26, 2008. He has a pair of Olympic silver medals; one from Salt Lake City, the other from Torino and five world championships medals.

At this time it is unknown when a return to competition might be. The next World Cup jumping event will be held at Engleberg, SUI, December 18-20th.

Complied by Peter Graves