PYEONGCHANG, South Korea (AP) — Philippe Marquis needed something to take his mind off the searing pain in his right knee. The knee with the torn anterior cruciate ligament. The knee with surgery scheduled for next month. The knee that for years has been a vital shock absorber during Marquis’ rise to one of the best moguls skiers on the planet.
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So the Canadian grabbed his gloves and a Sharpie and started writing. He scribbled “Engage” on his left thumb, “Fire” on his right thumb and added “What ACL” and “Keep Fighting” on the underside of his wrists because, hey, he was on a roll.
Usually, the 28-year-old from Quebec isn’t into self-help stuff. He hasn’t needed it during a career that’d been largely devoid of injury until one bad bounce in Utah last month that left his ACL shredded and his Olympics very much in doubt.
Still, there Marquis was in the starting gate at Phoenix Snow Park on Friday morning during Olympic qualifying, his mere presence a testament to his own stubbornness, the expert care of the Canadian medical staff and copious amounts of tape.
Read more and watch highlights from the men’s moguls qualifying
