Ski nordic: Gruber drops out for weeks after appendicitis surgery

Former world champion Bernhard Gruber misses the start of the Nordic Combineers in the Olympic Winter after an appendectomy.

During the training in Finland, the Austrian felt pain in his stomach and flew back to Schwarzach on Monday, where he was operated on in the evening.

“Intensive training will only be possible again in five to six weeks’ time,”said team doctor Dr. Stefan Hainzl.

Gruber, world champion in Falun from the big hill in 2015, was considered to be one of the biggest competitors of the German top duo Eric Frenzel and Johannes Rydzek for the World Cup season, which starts on Friday in Kuusamo.”Of course it’s bitter, but health is good,”said the 35-year-old. Head coach Christoph Eugen spoke of a “setback for the whole team”.