One such example was with Morgan Hamm an incredibale gymnast from USA, he remained out of Olympics just for his injury. Adding to the list is Terrence Trammell, one more American favorite fast running hurdler and he pulled up with apparent hamstring injury.
These injury stories did not end affecting only Americans.. Much came when Host nation's best athletic event gold medal winner Liu Xiang left the stadium with an Achilles tendon injury in the men's 110-meter hurdles event.
It’s painful to watch an athlete in prime condition going down and withdrawing due to injury. Very few can just hope to come back 4 yrs later for another Olympics and many end their career just with hopes!!!!!
Most of these athletes would have spent all their childhood, adolescence & growing years with one great aspiration, aiming one high shining star, one dream, that is to make it to Olympics- the great sport event ever!! And what a deception for them to come out as "Did not qualify" or "Did not play" or "Did not complete" etc. All these because of this "Damn Injury- A Physical Tormentor!"
On the list of athletes dealing with injuries, we also have Michel Phelps whose body & stature has been a genetic gift & blessing. A defect in the body that ever helped an athlete.
This American golden boy stands 6'4'', his arm span 6'7'' has a rare genetic disorder called 'Marfans syndrome' affecting the connective tissues causing hyper flexibility that has undoubtedly helped in his athletic endeavors. He went on records, for most gold medals won by an individual in Olympics. He won 8 Gold medals in swimming event. His body defect promised him to be "A Dolphin in water".
The good news is that injuries heal and the sporting world goes on, and many of these athletes go on to have their finest hours after recovering from injury.
The battles that count shouldn't be the ones for gold medals. The struggles to deal are to be within yourself -- The invisible, The inevitable battles inside all of us -- That's where it's at.
