Cover photo: WSL/Van Gysen 

2019 world champion and Olympic gold medalist Italo Ferreira suffered a contusion of the medial collateral ligament, with no signs of rupture, the Brazilian news platform AOS Media without citing sources.

Ferreira will not be at Teahupoo and therefore will not have a chance to qualify individually for Paris 2024 and to do so he will have to bet on the Brazilian men's team winning the 2024 ISA WSG in Puerto Rico and then being the one hand-picked to occupy the third slot.

The AOS statement adds that Italo will return to Brazil in the coming days where he will be re-evaluated, undergo new tests and then, if necessary, begin physical therapy.

There is no mention in the statement of undergoing surgery.

On Tuesday at JBay, Ferreira landed a very high floater but his back foot slipped, causing his third knee to twist under the full pressure of the fall and his body.

He was pulled from the water and rushed to hospital.

 

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