Mogul skier Miki Ito will continue to aim for next February's Sochi Olympic Games despite suffering a knee injury, she said Monday.
Ito injured the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee on Dec. 7 while practicing for a World Cup event in Ruka, Finland. A number of doctors have informed her that she would be better off having surgery rather than pushing herself to compete in Sochi.
"I have spent these past four years doing what I need to do to win a gold medal," Ito, who won a pair of silver medals at this year's world championships, told a news conference.
"I'm not going to adjust my goal and will keep going right through the Olympics."
Ito appeared at the news conference with her leg in a cast and walking with a cane.
Tatsuo Hayashi, the director of freestyle skiing for the Ski Association of Japan, said the plan is to decide on Japan's moguls squad around Jan. 20.
"We want until the last moment to check her condition, including when she will be able to ski" Hayashi said. "We will consult with a doctor and look into every possibility."