The Australian Olympic track and field team is reeling for the second time in a fortnight after world champion walker Nathan Deakes succumbed to yet another hamstring injury.
His absence means Australia will be without its two great gold medal hopes next month in Beijing after two-time 400m hurdles world champion Jana Rawlinson withdrew earlier this month with complications following toe surgery.
At least the 25-year-old Rawlinson could look ahead confidently to further Olympic campaigns in 2012 and - maybe even - 2016.
But for Deakes, who turns 31 next month, Beijing represented his best - and perhaps last - shot at the ultimate in his sport.
He has achieved just about everything else in race walking, including four Commonwealth Games titles, bronze in the 20km race at the Athens Olympics, a 50km world record on home soil in Geelong and last year's gutsy 50km world championship triumph in Osaka.
Deakes has battled hamstring injuries on and off since 2003.
The latest setback occurred when he ruptured a tendon during a training session in the Swiss resort of St Moritz last week, with the extent of the damage confirmed by an MRI scan.
Deakes will return to Australia for immediate surgery he hopes will prolong his celebrated career.
"It's been a bit strange, I haven't been really emotional about it yet," he said today.
"It's been a bit surreal if anything.
"I suppose when the Games roll around and when I get home this week it will probably hit me a bit more.
"... Obviously I don't want my career to end here, on this note.
"That's one reason I need to come home straight away and have the surgery because there is a six-to-nine month turn-around.
"I would at this stage like to keep going but I will make more of a decision once I have the surgery and it's a couple of months down the track."
The enforced absence of Deakes and Rawlinson in Beijing could also have far-reaching implications for the cash-strapped sport in Australia, with much future funding linked to success at major championships.
The focus will now shift to the likes of distance runner Craig Mottram, pole vaulter Steven Hooker and hurdler Sally McLellan to fly the flag in Beijing.
"It's something we're going to have to manage as a sport very well, to maintain the morale of the team when they know their two world champions, their two best chances for medals at the Olympic Games, aren't there," said Athletics Australia chief executive Danny Corcoran.
"Other athletes will now have to step up."
Deakes said he was confident the other Australian athletes were good enough to fill the breach left by the absence of him and Rawlinson.
"You can look at it historically and see that we always have athletes who come through and win medals that aren't expected, so I can't see how this is going to be any different this year," he said.
" ... we've still got some great athletes who will perform very well.
"They only have to make the final and once they're in the final they're a chance for a medal.
"I don't foresee that the Australian team will come away empty-handed."
Deakes' withdrawal drops the Australian athletics team for the Beijing Games to 41.
Jared Tallent and Adam Rutter are Australia's remaining competitors in the 50km walk, while either Luke Adams or Chris Erickson could replace Deakes after competing in the 20km race.
