 Noguchi won gold at the 2004 Olympics in Athens |
Olympic champion Mizuki Noguchi has withdrawn from April's Flora London Marathon with an Achilles injury. "I am really disappointed to miss this opportunity to run in the Flora London Marathon," said Noguchi.
"But having missed a month of training, I feel I would not be anywhere near full strength by 22 April."
Race director David Bedford said: "We are disappointed at losing the Olympic champion, but if anything the women's race will be more intriguing now."
Noguchi struggled with an inflamed Achilles tendon in her left leg for most of January and that left her unable to prepare for the London event.
"Careful, steady treatment from her physio has more or less healed the injury, but she has missed about a month of quality training," added Bedford.
"We know that Noguchi would not want to come to London if she could not do herself justice and of course wish her well for a speedy return to full fitness."
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 