Sparky

The former Swiss downhill world champion, Bruno Kernen, has retired through injury.
Kernen, 35, injured his knee at the end of last season. During his career he had 14 operations on his knee.

He crashed in March 2007 at the end of the downhill in Lenzerheide after straddling a gate with his right leg. He suffered concusion and a broken nose as well as multiple injuries to his knee including a torn inside ligament.

Kernen won his World Championship title in 1997 in the Italian resort of Sestriere. He was victorious in the same resort in The 2006 Winter Olympics when he picked up a bronze medal in The Men's Downhill.

Perhaps his most famous victory was in 2003 when he won the classic Lauberhorn downhill course.

In November this year his girlfriend is due to give birth to their first child.