Two-time Olympic 100 metres flat champion Gail Devers dream of landing the 100m hurdles Olympic crown for the first time ended dramatically on Sunday as she crashed out.
The 37-year-old American pulled up before the first hurdle of her first round heat and fell to the ground clutching her left foot which was heavily strapped ending realistically any hopes of her ever winning the title.
An American team official said that Devers had injured a calf muscle a week ago while training in Georgia, in the United States, and had worn the strapping during the 100m flat.
Devers had gone out in Saturday's 100m semi-finals, though she said at the time nothing about the injury and claimed to be happy at getting some race practice in.
Devers speciality is the 100m hurdles but although she has won three outdoor world titles she appeared jinxed by the Olympics where the closest she came was in the 1992 edition.
She was in sight of doing the double of the 100 flat and the hurdles but stumbled after the final hurdle while leading and had to settle for fifth.
Despite her great record at world level she has never won a medal of any colour at the discipline in the Olympics.
{{/usCountry}}Despite her great record at world level she has never won a medal of any colour at the discipline in the Olympics.
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