Xavier Jolis Injured

Xavier Jolis Injured

AUCKLAND - February 25, 2003 - Team Alinghi's physiotherapist and trainer, Xavier Jolis, has sustained a broken left leg and has been taken to Auckland City Hospital for treatment. His leg is broken in three places, and both the tibia and fibula are fractured. The injury occurred February 24 during a regular training session of football, when he collided with another team member on the field. He will undergo surgery this morning for doctors to place a pin in his leg. He will remain in hospital under supervision for 3 - 4 days. For the America's Cup competition, Xavier will remain in Auckland with the rest of the Alinghi team. Xavier has been with Team Alinghi since June 2001. He is responsible for designing and maintaining a comprehensive and detailed fitness program that is tailored to each athlete on the team, according to the sailor's function on the yacht. He works daily with the team to ensure they are in optimum shape for the competition.

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JOCHEN SCHUEMANN - SPORTS DIRECTOR : "We will carry on with our training according to the plan that Xavier has already organized for the duration of the Cup. Madeline Hernon, who worked with the New Zealand Olympics Team in 2000,will help us on the physiotherapist side. Thierry Chappet, an Alinghi crewmember and sport coordinator, is taking on the responsibility of running the daily gym sessions. With Xavier overseeing the training regimen, the sailors have already achieved a very high standard of fitness and our goal is to sustain what we've achieved and avoid injuries. He will be back with the team again within a few days. "

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