Young Caymanian skier Dean Travers has been dealt a cruel injury blow ahead of the Youth Winter Olympics.

Dean should have been flying the flag for the islands at the Inaugural Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsburck, Austria next week.

But instead of taking to the slopes, Dean is laid up on the treatment table after picking up a knock in training.

The 14-year-old suffered a knee injury and his medical team face a race against time to try and get Dean fit for the Giant Slalom event on Thursday 19^th January.

Although Annie Mae Roffey, Chief Operating Officer of the Cayman Islands Olympic Committee, rated his chances of making the race as “questionable”.

Dean will be taking part in the opening ceremony tomorrow.

Ms Roffey added: “Unfortunately our athlete Dean Travers was injured during training.

“He will still travel to the Games this week and participate in the Opening ceremony as well as in the Culture and Education activities, but it is now questionable if he will be fit enough to compete in his event.

“The Games Organizers, the IOC and the CIOC are in support of his attendance regardless.”

Dean began skiing at two years old and competes for the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club.

His older brother, Dow, represented Cayman at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.

Dean stood a good chance of getting a medal after he took the bronze in the 2009 giant slalom at the Whistler Cup and the gold medal in the super-G race in 2011.