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Manny Osborne-Paradis breaks leg in downhill

Canadian team battling injuries

Manny Osborne-Paradis fractured his left fibula in today's down hill race in Chamonix reports Alpine Canada.

There were high hopes for the 26-year-old North Vancouver native as he headed into the race. Osborne-Paradis followed up a 29th-place finish during Thursday's training run with the seventh-fastest run on Friday. He was to wear bib No. 20 today.

Said Osborne Paradis Friday: "I feel pretty good.

"I'm getting to the front of the boot and just trying to get over this slump. I need to find my stride before world championships."

Canada's downhill skiers looked well placed to push for the podium in Chamonix after Erik Guay and Osborne-Paradis both finished in the top-10 in training on Friday.

Guay, of Mont-Tremblant, Que., was second-fastest Friday and had bib No. 11 going into Saturday's downhill race.

It's been a tough go for the Canadian team for injuries. Jan Hudec broke his wrist and is suffering from a troublesome back, Robbie Dixon is still troubled by a concussion from last year, Francois Bourque blew his knee and Guay has missed starts as well thanks to a sore back.

Guay was 19th today at Chamonix. Didier Cuche of Switzerland, who started 22nd, in a time of one minute, 58.91 seconds, won the race. Dominik Paris of Italy was second.

Other Whistler winter athletes injured recently include Maƫlle Ricker, who broke her wrist, and Ashleigh McIvor who tore her ACL in her left knee in training at the X Games in Aspen.

Pick up next week's Pique for more on this story.