Shaun White battling ankle injury, will skip halfpipe qualifier

The U.S. already has one Olympic megastar -- skier Lindsey Vonn -- battling injury. Now you can add snowboarder Shaun White to the list.

White, who tweaked his left ankle in competition last week, was not expected to compete in the halfpipe qualifier at this week’s World Cup snowboarding event in Colorado on Wednesday, according to the Associated Press.

However, the two-time defending gold medalist was expected to compete Thursday in the slopestyle, an event that will make its Olympic debut at the 2014 Sochi Games.

The Copper Mountain contest represents the second of five competitions that will determine the American team.

With snowboarders judged on their best two finishes, White does not have to compete in every event to make the team in halfpipe. However, he does need a Top-30 finish in the slopestyle to satisfy international qualification standards.

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