Skier Goggia’s status unclear

With the Beijing Olympics looming, Sofia Goggia’s recovery is on track but the Italian will likely have to wait until the end of the week to know whether she’ll be able to defend her downhill title.

The Italian ski federation said that a check-up Sunday showed signs of improvement to Goggia’s left knee, a week after Goggia crashed during a World Cup super-G in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.

The federation added that Goggia can step up her work in the pool and gym, while continuing physical rehab as she battles to be fit in time for the downhill at the Beijing Olympics on Feb. 15.

“Things are progressing the way we hoped,” Goggia said. “All I can do is continue to work in this way, and at the end of next week we’ll assess the situation again.”

Goggia, 29, sprained her left knee, partially tore a cruciate ligament and has a fracture of the fibula in her leg, along with some tendon damage.

Goggia will likely miss the Olympic giant slalom Feb. 7 and the super-G on Feb. 11. She’ll need to enter at least one downhill training session on Feb. 12, 13 or 14 to compete in the downhill — but preferably all three on a new course that she has not been on.

She also had to be replaced by snowboard cross gold medalist Michela Moioli as Italy’s flag bearer for Friday’s Opening Ceremonies.

More medical news: The pandemic continues to impact cross-country ski teams as they head to Beijing, with a Norwegian skier replaced and a Swedish competitor testing positive upon arrival in China.

The Norwegian women’s team replaced Anne Kjersti Kalva with Ragnhild Haga after Kalva tested positive for the coronavirus.

“We need to ensure enough athletes for the distances during the Games,” Gro Eide, a spokesman for the Ski Federation, told reporters.

Norway’s Heidi Weng had also tested positive, but Eide said her situation was pending.

Swedish cross-country skier Leo Johansson was in quarantine after testing positive for the coronavirus when he arrived in China, team spokesman Lars Markusson said.

Johansson had tested positive before the training camp in Italy two weeks ago and went home to Sweden, so he did not have contact with the rest of the team, Markusson said. He had six negative PCR tests before leaving for China but when he arrived Friday, he tested positive. He also was positive in a second test Saturday, Markusson said.

⏩ Beijing officials said Sunday they had sealed off several residential communities north of the city center after two cases of the coronavirus were found.

Another 34 cases were confirmed among athletes and others who have come for the Games, the organizing committee said. In all 211 people have tested positive among more than 8,000 who had arrived by the end of Saturday.

New coach: Former Chicago Blackhawks head coach Jeremy Colliton was promoted to head coach of Canada’s men’s hockey team after Claude Julien was sidelined by an injury.

Hockey Canada says Julien slipped on ice and fractured his ribs during training camp in Switzerland, and medical staff determined he won’t be able to fly to China for the Games.

Colliton said in a statement he is honored to lead the team and that he has gained a lot of knowledge from Julien in their short time together.