Injury could keep rider from Games

OTTAWA — Canadian BMX rider Tory Nyhaug has withdrawn from this week’s UCI world championships due to injuries sustained at a recent event in the Netherlands.

Nyhaug suffered a ruptured spleen in a crash at the men’s supercross finals two weeks ago at the Olympic Training Centre BMX track in Papendal. The Coquitlam rider is in good condition at a local hospital but his release date has not been finalized.

The withdrawal also means his chances of competing at the London Olympics are up in the air.

The Canadian men’s team has one position for the Summer Games but it could be in jeopardy depending on the results at the May 25- 27 event in Birmingham, England. Competitors earn qualifying points throughout the season and the world championship is the final event before results are tallied ahead of London.

“Tory is a very resilient and determined individual,” Canadian Cycling Association high performance director Jacques Landry said Tuesday in a release.

“He is an athlete that is targeted for 2016 but if there is any chance he can be ready for August 2012 there is no doubt in my mind that Tory, his family and his team of medical and training experts will pull out all stops to make the summer of 2012 happen for Tory.”

Nyhaug, 20, finished ninth at the 2011 world championships. He won the Canadian BMX title last year.