The Unofficial 2008 Beijing Olympics Blog

The famous, former world-record holder at the 100 M sprint section, Asafa Powell, pulled out of the Golden Gala 100 meters in Rome yesterday afternoon, after suffering a groin injury. The Jamaican burst out of the blocks in his heat but suddenly pulled up and did not run in the final.

“He’s OK, but he felt his groin cramp up and stopped running as a precaution,” said Paul Doyle, Powell’s manager.

Confession to the Associated Press report Asafa’s manager confessed this was a new injury, but also acknowledged the world class athelete has had similar issues before. Let’s just hope he’ll recover soon enough and that he’ll be in top shape in August, when the Olympics kick off.

At a news conference before the Rome meet began, Powell had told reporters it was good that Tyson Gay set a world (though wind-aided) record of 9.68 at the U.S. Olympic trials. “I think it is always better not to have all that pressure on your back. This year for the first time all eyes will be on Bolt and Gay. …”

Powell’s Jamaican teammate, Usain Bolt, one of the candidates on our 5 historical records that are likely to be broken at this year’s Olympics edition, set the 100-meter world record of 9.72 seconds in New York on May 31, improving on Powell’s 9.74.

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