Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and World champion walker Nathan Deakes has been forced to withdraw from next month’s Beijing Olympics following a recurring hamstring injury.

Deakes, who has been based at the AIS in Canberra for more than 10 years, will return to Australia and undergo surgery on his injured hamstring.

Deakes has battled hamstring problems for over four years and the timing of his latest injury could not have come at a worse time.

“Nathan is naturally devastated and words can’t explain how we’re all feeling right now,’ said Craig Hilliard, Deakes coach at the AIS for three years.

“Timing is everything in sport and unfortunately this wasn’t the time to re-injure the hamstring.”

“When you work as hard as Nathan has done for one goal (Olympic gold) and it’s taken away from you like this then it’s a pretty hard pill to swallow.”
 
Deakes won the 50 kilometre walk at last year’s World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan.

Along with former AIS scholarship holder Jana Rawlinson, he was considered Australia’s best chance of winning gold in track and field at the Beijing Olympics.

AIS Director Professor Peter Fricker said the whole of the Institute was sharing Deakes’ devastation.

“Nathan is a favourite with athletes and staff here at the AIS and the news of his Olympic withdrawal has hit us all hard,” Professor Fricker said.

“Not only is he a world champion athlete but he is also a great ambassador for Australia and the sport of athletics.”

“Our thoughts are with Nathan right now as we know how much he will be hurting.”

“We will work with Nathan and offer every support in his recovery.”

AIS walkers Jarred Talent, Luke Adams, Chris Erickson, Adam Rutter will now fly the flag for Australia in the men’s walks event in Beijing.

Note: Nathan Deakes will conduct a media phone conference at 5pm today. Contact: David Culbert (Jump Media) - 0417 272 641.           

*The AIS is a major division of the Australian Sports Commission.