Ski jump veteran Ahonen could miss Sochi

Finland's Janne Ahonen, a five-time ski jump world champion, could miss next month's Winter Olympics because of a lung infection, his country's skiing federation said Friday. The 36-year-old picked up the infection in November and was clearly still suffering at the Four Hills tournament where he finished in a lowly 23rd place. "He was still ill and it was a mistake. He was physically shattered," said a federation statement. Ahonen hopes to return to competition at the World Cup event in Willingen, Germany, on January 31, just a week before the Winter Olympics get underway in Sochi on February 7. Ahonen is a sporting hero in Finland after winning the Four Hills five times and collecting Olympic silver medals in 2002 and 2006. Source: AFP