Russian jumper likely out of the Games

Top ranked Russian ski jumper, Dimitri Vassiliev, is likely out of the Olympic Games following a fall suffered today in Lillehammer, Norway. Vassiliev, who has been jumping on the World Cup since 1999, re-injured the knee he hurt in ski flying at the Austria ski flying hill of Bad Mitterendorf four weeks ago. The web site of the FIS, the reliable, Berkutschi.com reported this news today.

This most certainly is a large blow to the fortunes of Russian ski jumping, who were banking on strong performances from Vassiliev. The second ranked jumper for Russia is Pavel Karelin ranked 50th on the FIS jumping points list.

More on this story as information becomes available.

by Peter Graves