Pearson left gutted after withdrawal

GOLD Coast: Australian hurdler Sally Pearson has admitted to a feeling of “grief” after making the “gut-wrenching” decision to withdraw from the Commonwealth Games, but she is determined to continue her career through to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Pearson was forced out of the Games because of a Achilles tendon complaint and she confirmed her withdrawal at a media conference on the Gold Coast yesterday afternoon.
The niggling injury had plagued the final stages of Pearson’s Games preparation and the pain — which meant she had trouble hurdling at training — “flared up” in recent days to the point that she and Athletics Australia (AA) officials made the decision to pull out on Tuesday.
Pearson, who was chasing her third-straight Commonwealth Games gold medal in the 100m hurdles, said it was “very disappointing” to have to miss the Games on her home soil.
“Gutted, absolutely gutted,” Pearson, who also won gold in Glasgow (2014) and Delhi (2010), said.
“There were a lot of tears flowing there were a lot of emotions. I guess you could call it grief, sort of going through the numb phase first and then going through the crying phase.
“It’s gut-wrenching, it’s heartbreaking. It’s very unfortunate that I can’t get out there.”
The 2012 Olympic champion had said last weekend she was a “90 per cent” chance of competing in the 100m hurdles and the 4x100m relay, and she was still confident when the Australian camp moved into the athletes’ village on the Gold Coast earlier this week.
But a training session on Tuesday convinced her, AA head coach Craig Hilliard, and team doctor Paul Blackman she had no choice but to scratch herself from the Games.
“I came out here at the village and did another training session and had full confidence warming up,” Pearson said.
“Then I went into some hurdles drills and then went into some run throughs and just couldn’t do it.”
Pearson took part in the Queen’s Baton relay on Wednesday morning and then played a key role in the opening ceremony when she delivered the baton after taking part in Australia’s march past.
She defended her decision to participate in the opening ceremony and not to have announced her withdrawal earlier than today.
“I wanted to go into the opening ceremony and enjoy myself,” Pearson said.
“I had a big role to play, I wanted to wait until today (yesterday) to announce it.”
The fear of causing more damage to her Achilles tendon underpinned the decision to quit the Games, as the two-time world champion wants to compete at the 2020 Olympics. – ABC