O'Sullivan woe as injury forces her out

Irish walker Gillian O'Sullivan, the holder of every Irish women's walk record, has released a statement relaying her disappointment in pulling out of her second Olympic Games.

Her decision comes just four days short of her 28th birthday.

The 2003 World Championships silver medallist said: "During the course of the last three months I have experienced an ongoing problem with my left hip area, which unfortunately has impeded my training programme.

"To compete in these circumstances would not be true to myself my team or the people of Ireland."

"I am withdrawing from participating in the Games to focus on getting this injury resolved once and for all."

Her withdrawal, coupled with the fractured toe and broken back bone received by Waterford walker Jamie Costin this morning in a car accident, sees just two Irish walkers lining out in Athens.

An Olympic Council of Ireland official has said that is "unlikely" that Costin could make a recovery before his 50km event on Friday August 27.

Corkman Robert Heffernan goes in the 20km men's event on Friday morning.