Loughnane withdrawal ends week of turmoil for walkers
The worst week on record for Ireland's race walkers ended this morning in Athens as Galway woman Olive Loughnane was one of five athletes to fail to finish the 20km walk.
Having felt unwell last night, a combination of a hamstring twinge and illness brought on by the 43% humidity in the constant Greek sun, saw Loughnane pull out.
The 28-year-old was attempting to better her Sydney finish of 35th, but was forced to pull out just past the 12km intermediate with a hamstring injury.
At that stage the Irish champion had just put in her slowest split of 10:03, in 45th. After 2km, she ranked 40th after a strong start in nine minutes, 21 seconds in 24-degree temperatures.
The event was won by Greece’s Athanasia Tsoumeleka on another humid morning in the Greek capital.
Russia’s Olimpiada Ivanova claimed silver, with Australia’s Jane Saville taking the bronze.
It completes a disastrous week for the sport in Ireland, as none of four representatives have completed their 20k or 50km Olympic races.
Six days ago, Waterford walker Jamie Costin was involved in a car accident. On the same day, World silver medallist Gillian O'Sullivan announced her withdrawal from the Games, stating that: "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."
On Friday morning, Corkman Robert Heffernan had his technique singled out by an Italian judge, and was disqualified from the men's 20km at the 11km mark, having been in twentieth position.
