Injured Australian hurdler Sally Pearson pulls out of Commonwealth Games sassing

But injury has robbed hurdler Sally Pearson, who spent many of her formative years on the Gold Coast where the Games are being staged, of the chance to win a third consecutive Commonwealth gold medal at the final hour.

'It's gut-wrenching and heartbreaking,' Pearson told reporters, having become aware of a problem with her Achilles two days ago in training.



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'I guess you could call it grief,' added the 31-year-old former world and Olympic champion. 'There were a lot of tears flowing. There was a numb phase and a crying phase.'

Pearson's face had adorned billboards all over the coastal city and she had played a key role at Wednesday's opening ceremony, carrying Queen Elizabeth II's baton on its final leg inside the Carrara Stadium.

'I had a big role to play in the opening ceremony which is why I waited until today to make the announcement,' said Pearson, who had been tipped to compete in multiple events.

'I did everything I possibly could. I left no stone unturned to run in the 100m hurdles and the 4x100m relay.'

READ: Brownlee Brothers upstaged by South Africa's Henri Schoeman

Withdrawals

Pearson is not the first high-profile athlete to pull out of the Games.

Olympic and world 400m champion Wayde van Niekerk, tipped as the man to 'take over' athletics by none other than Usain Bolt, sustained a serious knee injury in October 2017 playing touch rugby.

The South African had hoped to compete in the 100m and 200m sprint disciplines in the absence of the legendary Jamaican, but vowed to work hard 'to get back on the track as soon as possible.'

His withdrawal was followed by snubs from Kenya's 800m world record holder David Rudisha, two-time 1500m Olympic champion Asbel Kiprop and Canada's triple Olympic sprint medalist Andre De Grasse.

Visit CNN.com/commonwealthgames for more news and features

The women's 100m hurdles, in which Pearson was expected to compete, take place Friday 13 April at the Carrara Stadium. The Commonwealth Games go on until April 15.

'I did everything I possibly could. I left no stone unturned to run in the 100m hurdles and the 4x100m relay.' The women's 100m hurdles, in which Pearson was expected to compete, take place Friday 13 April at the Carrara Stadium. The Commonwealth Games go on until April 15. The South African had hoped to compete in the 100m and 200m sprint disciplines in the absence of the legendary Jamaican, but vowed to work hard 'to get back on the track as soon as possible.' READ: Brownlee Brothers upstaged by South Africa's Henri Schoeman But injury has robbed hurdler Sally Pearson, who spent many of her formative years on the Gold Coast where the Games are being staged, of the chance to win a third consecutive Commonwealth gold medal at the final hour. Withdrawals His withdrawal was followed by snubs from Kenya's 800m world record holder David Rudisha, two-time 1500m Olympic champion Asbel Kiprop and Canada's triple Olympic sprint medalist Andre De Grasse. Pearson's face had adorned billboards all over the coastal city and she had played a key role at Wednesday's opening ceremony, carrying Queen Elizabeth II's baton on its final leg inside the Carrara Stadium. But injury has robbed hurdler Sally Pearson, who spent many of her formative years on the Gold Coast where the Games are being staged, of the chance to win a third consecutive Commonwealth gold medal at the final hour. 'I did everything I possibly could. I left no stone unturned to run in the 100m hurdles and the 4x100m relay.' But injury has robbed hurdler Sally Pearson, who spent many of her formative years on the Gold Coast where the Games are being staged, of the chance to win a third consecutive Commonwealth gold medal at the final hour. 'I did everything I possibly could. I left no stone unturned to run in the 100m hurdles and the 4x100m relay.' Visit CNN.com/commonwealthgames for more news and features But injury has robbed hurdler Sally Pearson, who spent many of her formative years on the Gold Coast where the Games are being staged, of the chance to win a third consecutive Commonwealth gold medal at the final hour. Olympic and world 400m champion Wayde van Niekerk, tipped as the man to 'take over' athletics by none other than Usain Bolt, sustained a serious knee injury in October 2017 playing touch rugby. 'I did everything I possibly could. I left no stone unturned to run in the 100m hurdles and the 4x100m relay.' READ: Brownlee Brothers upstaged by South Africa's Henri Schoeman Visit CNN.com/commonwealthgames for more news and features 'I had a big role to play in the opening ceremony which is why I waited until today to make the announcement,' said Pearson, who had been tipped to compete in multiple events. 'I had a big role to play in the opening ceremony which is why I waited until today to make the announcement,' said Pearson, who had been tipped to compete in multiple events. Pearson is not the first high-profile athlete to pull out of the Games. Withdrawals 'It's gut-wrenching and heartbreaking,' Pearson told reporters, having become aware of a problem with her Achilles two days ago in training. His withdrawal was followed by snubs from Kenya's 800m world record holder David Rudisha, two-time 1500m Olympic champion Asbel Kiprop and Canada's triple Olympic sprint medalist Andre De Grasse.

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