• Winter Olympics

Snowboarder Morgan puts off surgery to compete

ESPN staff
January 18, 2014
Billy Morgan has put off surgery to compete in Sochi © Getty Images
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British snowboarder Billy Morgan has decided to put off an operation so he can compete at next month's Winter Olympics.

Morgan, a slopestyle boarder, is one of Britain's best hopes for a medal at the Sochi Games, but injured his right knee while training in October.

"I snapped my anterior cruciate ligament and medial cruciate ligament," Morgan said. "I wanted to cry.

"I had a simple choice - either go to Sochi or don't and have the operation. So I'm going to Sochi.

"It's gone as well as it could so far. My knee is strengthening really quickly. It's feeling stable, doesn't feel foreign any more."

In 2011, Morgan became the first snowboarder to land a triple backside rodeo - three flips in mid-air.

The 25-year-old went on to finish fourth at the 2013 World Championships before earning bronze at the World Cup meet in Sierra Nevada to end last season second in the world rankings.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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