Aussie Paralympic team hit with blow as flagbearer Cameron Rahles-Rahbula forced out with broken leg

AUSTRALIAN Paralympic flagbearer Cameron Rahles-Rahbula has been forced to abandon his fourth Games after breaking his leg .

Cameron Rahles-Rahbula leads the Aussies during the opening ceremony.

AUSTRALIAN Paralympic flagbearer Cameron Rahles-Rahbula has been forced to abandon his fourth and final Games after breaking his leg in a training crash.

The 30-year-old left leg amputee fractured a bone in his right leg last week and pulled out of the downhill and Super-G events on the weekend.

Cameron Rahles-Rahbula leads the Aussies during the opening ceremony.

He was hopeful of competing in the slalom and giant slalom later this week, but in consultation with the Australian team doctor he has withdrawn from the Sochi Games.

Rahles-Rahbula said he risked causing long-term damage to his leg if he took to the slopes this week.

“I’ve seen the doctor and unfortunately I’ve been ruled out for the remainder of the Games,” the dual bronze medallist from Vancouver said.

“It’s just the high risk to the knee. With damage to the knee already, if I do race there’s the potential to make it much worse.

“Aside from that it’s still quite sore so there’s also the risk of injuring something else if you’re not skiing the right way.

“So that’s the end of my Games from an athlete point of view.

“It was one of those accidents that freakishly occur. And that’s probably the most disappointing part of it - that it wasn’t something you expect to happen. It was a very unusual accident.”

Australian chef de mission Chris Nunn said Rahles-Rahbula would remain in Sochi to help his young teammates.

“Cam has all the qualities of a great leader. And he’s done that by being such a hard-working and talented ski racer,” Nunn said.

“The rest of the team here in Russia - and we have four first-timers at a Paralympic Games - are learning an awful lot off Cam. He is an excellent role model.”