LONDON – Former world high jump champion Blanka Vlasic has withdrawn from the London Olympics after failing to recover from injuries and health issues.
The 28-year-old Croatian dominated the high jump since her silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Games until ankle surgery last year. In May, she said she was dealing with a bacterial infection that set back her recovery.
Vlasic said on her website that her "health situation is getting better," but she won't be able to get in top shape in time for the July 27-Aug. 12 Olympics.
She described it as a "minor setback," stressing she didn't want to be jumping "below my usual level, so it is the best thing to stay home and get the healing process to the end."
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