Sochi Olympics: Aksel-Lund Svindal pulls out of final Alpine events

SOCHI, Russia -- World champion and Olympic favorite Ted Ligety of the United States has one less contender to deal with in Wednesday’s men’s giant slalom at Rosa Khotur.

Norway’s Aksel-Lund Svindal, citing allergies and fatigue, announced Monday that he was pulling out of the GS and Saturday’s slalom competition.

“It’s the point of no return,” Norway coach Havard Tjorhom told the Associated Press. “He’s not feeling too good. ... This way, he’ll try to get better and have some energy left for the rest of the World Cup season.”

Svindal, after winning gold, silver and bronze at the Vancouver Games, has had a disappointing showing in Sochi. He finished fourth in the downhill, eighth in the super combined and seventh in super giant slalom.

He was the defending Olympic champion in super G but ceded his title to fellow Norwegian Kjetil Jansrud.

Svindal is a two-time World Cup overall champion, but GS and slalom are his two weakest events. He won GS bronze in 2010 but ranks only No. 13 in the event this year with only one top-10 finish on the World Cup. Svindal has no slalom results this year.

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