Deakes to miss out
Australian world champion walker Nathan Deakes has been forced to pull out of next month's Beijing Olympics because of a hamstring injury.
The 30-year-old has been troubled by hamstring problems for the past four years but aggravated the injury while training in Switzerland last week.
He has been ordered to undergo immediate surgery to repair the damage, sidelining him until at least next year and ruining his chances of competing at Beijing.
“I'm still in a bit of shock,” Deakes said in a statement.
“There was no decision to make unfortunately, my body made the decision for me.
“I have to have surgery to fix it as the hamstring tendon has come away from the bone at the pelvis. It will mean a six to nine month recovery process.”
Deakes earned a bronze medal in the 20 kilometre walk at the 2004 Athens Olympics and was among the favourites to collect the gold in the men's 50km at Beijing after winning last year's world title in Osaka.
His withdrawal is also a major blow to Australia's hopes of winning a gold in athletics after Jana Rawlinson, a two-time world champion in the women's 400 metres hurdles, pulled out less than two weeks ago because of a toe injury.
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