Belgian heptathlete Nafissatou Thiam at the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 (© AFP / Getty Images)
The double Olympic and world champion in the heptathlon, the Belgian Nafissatou Thiam, diminished by tendon pain, will not defend her title at the Worlds in Budapest.
The Belgian athletics federation announced on Wednesday that the double Olympic and world champion in the heptathlon, the Belgian Nafissatou Thiam, diminished by tendon pain, will not defend her title at the World Championships in Budapest from August 19 to 27 next.
“Nafi’s preparation was disrupted by Achilles tendon problems and after various consultations with her team, she decided not to risk aggravating the problem by participating in Budapest,“ explained the managers of the athlete in a press release. “Nafi is disappointed to skip a major championship but retains a strong vision for her long-term goals and the Paris Olympics,“ they added.
Nafi Thiam is the new world record-holder of the pentathlon since march. She won 9 of her last 10 major competitions. Without her, on 19 and 20 August, the Women’s heptathlon could be the triumph of the American youngster, Anna Hall, who almost reached the 7000 points barrier in Götzis.
