Canadian decathlete Pierce LePage, the reigning world champion, has withdrawn from the Paris Olympics because of a back injury.
The 28-year-old from Whitby, Ont. announced his decision Wednesday in a post on Instagram.
“I really didn’t want to be here making this video, but I will not be going to Paris 2024 and that (expletive deleted) sucks,” he said. “In April, I suffered an L5, S1 disc herniation. At the time, the prognosis was looking good that I’d be ready for the Olympics but I just happen to be one of those people who don’t naturally heal from disc herniation.
“I’ve pushed through injury before and I’ve competed on injuries, so to the very end, until the last week or so, I really thought I was going to be able to push through and be able to do it, but I can’t force my back to suddenly start working, no matter how hard I try.”
LePage said the injury will require surgery and he wants to get that done soon so he can be ready for next season.
“It got to the point where it’s either go to the Olympics, score 7,000 points, if that, or hurt myself and risk future long-lasting damage. My mind wants to be there but every sign in my body is telling me not to and that it’s a mistake, so me and my team ultimately made the decision not to go.”
LePage hasn’t competed in a full decathlon since winning the world championship in Budapest last summer. Canada will still be represented in the decathlon in Paris by London, Ont. native Damian Warner, the reigning Olympic champion.