Injury could sideline aerials champion

SAUZE D'OULX, Italy, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Ales Valenta of the Czech Republic, defending Olympic champion in freestyle aerials, could miss this year's event due to a knee injury.

Valenta suffered the injury Tuesday in a practice session when he landed awkwardly on a triple rotation jump.

"I stretched it two weeks ago and I just stretched it again," he said. "It's an inside ligament. It's pretty bad right now."

Qualifying in Valenta's event takes place next Monday with the finals scheduled for Feb. 23.

Valenta became known for executing extremely difficult jumps, including one he successfully completed at the 2002 Olympics that involved five twists and three back flips.