'It's heartbreaking': World champion's 'terrible' Olympic reveal
Two-time Olympic gold medallist Christian Taylor is set to miss the Tokyo Olympics after rupturing his achilles in a lead-up tournament.
Taylor, who won gold at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics for the triple-jump, was injured at an event in Ostrava in the Czech Republic on Wednesday.
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The four-time world champion ruptured his achilles and underwent surgery, but did not give details on how long he would be out.
But the injury is nearly certain to rule him out of the Tokyo Olympics in July.
Austrian hurdler Beate Schrott wrote a social media post confirming the news.
“Christian ruptured his Achilles during the competition in Ostrava yesterday. It is heartbreaking. Really,” she wrote.
“I know he’ll get through this. He will fight his way back.”
Taylor wished speedy recovery
Schrott said Taylor, 30, had undergone surgery but did not provide details on the likely length of his absence.
The US athletics federation wished Taylor a speedy recovery without confirming the injury.
“Wishing back-to-back Olympic champion and four-time World champion @Taylored2jump a speed recovery,” the USATF said on Twitter.
It’s heartbreaking to announce that the two times Olympic Champion Christian Taylor has ruptured his Achilles at the Ostrava meeting yesterday. 💔
The Jumpers World community wish him a speed recovery 🙏
FOREVER the 🐐 pic.twitter.com/tZJCwNQ42b— Jumpers World (@jumpers_world) May 20, 2021
Sandy Creek High School alum Christian Taylor -- one of the best triple jump athletes in the world -- ruptured his Achilles. Just ahead of the Olympics.
Man that's tough, wishing the best for Christian. https://t.co/zXmsuRfZTg— Justin Felder (@Justin_FOX5) May 20, 2021
Terrible news for Olympic and American athletics. Christian Taylor 🇺🇸, a two-time Olympic champion, broke his achilles tendon yesterday in Ostrava, according to his fiancee Beate Schrott on IG. A delicate situation for #Tokyo2020
Get Well Soon pic.twitter.com/auM4iUMWWa— Victor K Almeida 📰 (@AlmeidaVictorK) May 20, 2021
There has been plenty of public pressure to stop the Tokyo Games, despite officials insisting it will go ahead.
A virus state of emergency in Japan's capital city and other parts of the country was extended on Friday, less than three months before the delayed Games are due to begin.
There has been increasing pressure from the Japanese public to cancel the Olympics, which have already been postponed once from its original dates last summer due to the pandemic.
with Reuters
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