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July 26, 2017

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Britain’s Rutherford withdraws from athletic worlds

WORLD long jump champion Greg Rutherford will not defend his crown in London next month after being forced to withdraw from the championships through injury, British Athletics announced yesterday.

The former Olympic champion had been hoping to return to the stadium where he famously won his gold on ‘Super Saturday’ in 2012 but has had to admit defeat to a series of injury woes over the season. He said he felt “gutted” by having to pull out.

“In the last few days I have had to accept an unfortunate reality. I did everything I could, but a string of injuries at the worst possible time means I will be unable to defend my world title in London,” Rutherford said in a British Athletics statement.

“With an incredible start to the year in training, and very promising early season form, I have had a difficult series of setbacks as the season progressed.

“Most recently, a badly damaged ankle ligament and a sportsman’s hernia really put paid to my plans. The injuries have taken longer to heal than we hoped, and I have been unable to even jump at all in training, let alone compete.”

The news is a blow for the home challenge at the championships that begin on August 4.

The 30-year-old, who won the world title in Beijing 2 years ago, has been a serial medal winner for Britain at major events.

He really made his name at the London Olympics where he struck gold on the same Saturday night that distance runner Mo Farah and heptathlete Jessica Ennis also won for Britain.

Meanwhile, champion hurdler Sally Pearson and walker Jared Tallent headlined a 48-strong Australian team announced yesterday for the worlds.

The country’s largest world title squad since Seville in 1999 includes 20 debutantes from the Olympic Games in Rio last year.

“It ensures that we are likely to see a competitive few months ahead as athletes seek nomination for selection to the Australia Commonwealth Games Team,” Athletics Australia said.

The Commonwealth Games next year are on home soil at the Gold Coast.

Australia won two silvers at the last world championships in Beijing two years ago — Tallent in the 50km walk and Fabrice Lapierre in the long jump.




 

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