Minor surgery on World Cup Overall Champion Ivica Kostelic’s right knee Thursday (April 21) went well and Dr. Niklaus Friedrich reports he should be ready for training, with full extension in three to five weeks.
The surgery was scheduled to remove what was termed a “fabella,” described as “enlarged bone tissue” that has caused some pain while skiing. In the end the fabella was not removed and doctors, including Friedrich and Dr. Werner Mueller from the Bruderholz clinic in Basel, Switzerland, were content to clean out the knee, saying after examination the 2.5cm obstruction should not be a future problem.
About the Author: Hank McKee
In memoriam: The veteran of the staff, McKee started with Ski Racing in 1980. Over the seasons, he covered virtually every aspect of the sport, from the pro tours to junior racing, freestyle and World Cup alpine competition. He wrote the first national stories for many U.S. team stars, and was still around to report on their retirements. “Longevity has its rewards,” he said, “but it’s a slow process.”
