Australian walker out of Olympics

Australia's world champion 50km walker Nathan Deakes has pulled out of the Olympics with a hamstring injury.

Deakes, 30, aggravated his hamstring at a Swiss training camp last week and faces surgery and months of recovery.

It is the second blow in a fortnight to Australia's athletics hopes, following the withdrawal of 400m hurdler Jana Rawlinson, with a toe injury.

On Monday, the Australian Olympic Committee projected a top five medal finish for the nation.

"I'm still in a bit of shock. There was no decision to make unfortunately, my body made the decision for me"
Nathan Deakes

The AOC said Australia was likely to win 44 medals, slightly down on the 49 it won in Athens in 2004.

AOC President John Coates said: "Our arch rival Great Britain has made dramatic advances at our expense, particularly in rowing and cycling."

He added: "We're still very confident that being in the same time zone as Beijing will give us a considerable advantage and we'll be in the top five."

Deakes won bronze in the 20km walk in Athens, and was one of the favourites for gold in the 50km in Beijing after winning the world title at the distance in 2007.

"I'm still in a bit of shock," he said in a statement.

"There was no decision to make unfortunately, my body made the decision for me.

"I have to have surgery to fix it as the hamstring tendon has come away from the bone at the pelvis. It will mean a six to nine month recovery process."

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