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Innsbruck, Austria • The Austrian ski federation says super-G world champion Hannes Reichelt is out indefinitely after undergoing back surgery.
The federation says the 36-year-old Reichelt had a piece of a spinal disk removed after complaining about back pains since returning to Austria from the team's pre-season training camp in Chile.
In a statement by the federation, Reichelt says "the pain I had before the surgery is gone. I hope for a speedy recovery and to be able to ski again soon."
Reichelt also underwent surgery on a herniated disk in January 2014, a few days after winning the classic downhill in Kitzbuehel. The injury forced him out of the Sochi Olympics.
The Alpine skiing World Cup season starts with a giant slalom in Soelden, Austria, on Oct. 23.