(AP)
8 September 2000Magdeburg, Germany - Grit Breuer, the world indoor 400 meter champion, pulled out of the Olympics Friday while facing an operation for back problems.
That dealt German hopes of winning a medal in the 4x400 women's relay event at Sydney a deep blow. Anja Ruecker, world outdoor silver medallist in the 400 and another key member, is also injured.
Breuer anchored 4x400 bronze medal teams in 1996 for Germany and for the former East Germany in 1988.
Because of injuries and sub-par performances, the German athletics team at the Olympics will be composed of just 69 athletes, the lowest at a major event since the country's reunification in 1990.
Marathon runner Katrin Doerre-Heinig, another medal hopeful, pulled out Thursday with back problems.
