Acute Pneumonia Dashes Athlete’s Quest for Gold at Winter X Games
January 26, 2006 (NEWPORT BEACH, CA) – Ailo Gaup understands
why it takes a lot to keep an athlete out of Winter X Games. It’s one
of the biggest events of the year, and those who are talented enough to
get the nod from the invitation committee will move mountains to make
sure they’re in their starting position on time. The prize money
is great, but it’s the title of “Winter X Games Medalist” that
motivates the athletes.
This was going to be Norway’s FMX phenom, Ailo Gaup’s first attempt at
the coveted medal. Coming off of a great 2005 with recent
accomplishments including the Bronze medal at the Air & Style in
Munich in December, Ailo was ready to rock the house with his signature
“Underflip over the ice gap”, a trick that he put into competition on
dirt more than a year ago, and only he has ever successfully landed.
Unfortunately, Ailo has been diagnosed with Acute Double Pneumonia and
his doctor has given him strict orders to pull out of the competition
and remain in bed under careful supervision while on heavy rounds of
antibiotics.
Being a true athlete, Ailo was determined to still compete despite the
intense pain, but acquiesced when faced with the news that should he
disobey his doctors orders most likely his condition would become
seriously aggravated by the altitude and extreme cold weather Aspen is
famous for, possibly to the point of death.
Ironically, Ailo’s determination to win was his undoing. To prepare for
the challenge Ailo went so far as to build an ice ramp at a resort near
his Norwegian home. Spending weeks and weeks practicing in the freezing
temperatures, despite the fact that he already had the flu has led to
his worst nightmare. Ailo’s dreams of finding gold in the hills of
Aspen are dead.
“I can’t express how disappointed I am. It’s one of the worst things
that’s ever happened to me.”, said Ailo. “Usually we just keep
going through the pain, and we know there are always risks doing what
we do, but I guess competing when you know for sure it’s going to
collapse a lung, or worse, would be stupid.”, said Ailo.
So for now, his manager Rich Swisher of the Sports Syndicate, will have
to settle for the top two podium positions courtesy of his other top
FMXers, “Cowboy” Kenny Bartram and Jeremy “Twitch” Stenberg, instead of
the three way sweep he was hoping for.