Despite Bode Miller taking part in the practice run for the World Cup downhill race in Val Gardena, it remains a mystery whether he will emerge at the start gate when it matters.
The American recently injured his ankle in a game of volleyball and the swelling that followed has left him in some pain and struggling to put his right ski boot on.
However, Miller used the rehearsal as a trial to see how close to full fitness he was and came home in 20th spot behind pace-setter Michael Walchhofer.
Miller failed to speak to reporters in Italy after the display, although US coach Sasha Rearick commented that a final decision was still to be made.
Rearick told the Associated Press: "He's a tough kid and he'll tough it out. It's more a question of what's the smart thing to do that we have got to figure out."
Austrian Walchhofer clocked the quickest time, with Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway taking second and Sweden's Hans Olsson running third fastest.
Miller has proved his versatility on the snow in the past, winning gold in the combined and giant slalom events at the 2003 World Championships in St Moritz.
He followed up two years later in Bormio by taking gold in the downhill and super G disciplines.
Written by Chris Smith
