Australia’s Olympic champion hurdler Sally Pearson has reportedly torn a hamstring in training and won’t compete at the Rio Games.
Pearson, the defending Olympic 100m hurdles champion, suffered the injury while training on the Gold Coast, Australian news outlets reported on Wednesday.
Pearson had returned to her Gold Coast base after struggling in comeback races in Europe earlier this month when competing after a year-long absence because of a broken wrist.
She suffered the hamstring injury at training last weekend, News Corp reported.
The 29-year-old was to have been the Australian track and field captain at the Rio Games which start on August 5.
Pearson’s manager Robert Joske refused to confirm the reports, saying the hurdler would speak to media on Thursday, ABC reported.
Pearson returned to Australia in a bid to find form and fitness after three sub-standard races in Europe.
The races were Pearson’s comeback from a broken wrist and a torn calf muscle sustained in fall in a race in June last year.
“I was a little disappointed with my results and also disappointed that my body was letting me down a little,” Pearson wrote on her website on June 18.
“This has been a big year, broken bones, torn calf, degenerative Achilles and hammy problems … sometimes I wonder why I still continue to do this sport.
“What brings athletes back even after we get pushed down time and time again from disappointment? For me, it’s the excitement, the fun and the pure determination that I can overcome the setbacks and still deliver my best.”
Pearson won gold in her pet 100m hurdles event at the 2012 London Olympics, four years after winning silver in the event at the Beijing Games.
The Queenslander was also 2011 world champion and a dual Commonwealth Games gold medallist in the event.
HarryT
Guest
I wonder if Sally ever regrets parting ways with Sharon Hannan.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Jerry she did drop to a 12.9, and she hasn't done much work. Still, finalist was the best she could do I reckon.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Yeah that was a seriously ugly fall. She's still only 29. Can do another Comm Games, at least.
Jerry
Guest
That's disappointing but she was pretty much off the pace subsequent to last major injury anyway, on the positive side Sh e's already achieved so much
Simoc
Guest
I think that is it for Sally. She has been great for Australian athletics, although pretty much a lone sailor on the track. She might come back but what for? More grief. Nothing will match the London Gold and then it was so close. It would be hard to get motivated for a Commonwealth Games these days, apart from the fact it is in her hometown. And she also won the international athlete of the year award for females one year, so a stellar career.
Torchbearer
Guest
I hope this is not the sad end of her amazing career.....must be hard to keep coming back from injury. Her wrist fracture gives me chills.....OOOUCH!
jameswm
Roar Guru
Yep - 6 weeks away, doing a heavy load. Plus, she is playing catch up, having missed a lot of training with her injuries. You can't put your body in a bubble for that long, then expect to be able to strain it to the max in the Olympics. You have to be constantly testing and improving it. General fitness doesn't win you an Olympic 100 hurdles medal.
delbeato
Roar Guru
She'd have been under full load, trying to reach peak condition ahead of the Games.
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
So close to the games, i thought athletes would start taking less risks with training and working more on general fitness. Especially when already selected.