Three members of the Irish Olympic team are likely to return home without competing after a series of mishaps that have seriously dented Ireland's hopes of medals. Ian O'Riordan, in Athens, reports
The gravest incident involved the 50km walker Jamie Costin, who sustained serious lower back injuries in a car crash.
The accident occurred shortly before noon yesterday after a training session in Porto Helis, some 300 miles south-east of Athens. He was driving back to his accommodation when his car hit a lorry head-on on a country road.
Last night Costin was transferred for specialist treatment at the main Athens KAT hospital, and was also examined by Dr Sean Gaine of the Olympic Council of Ireland. "Jamie's first words to me were 'will I still be able to compete next week?'," said Dr Gaine.
"He has a fracture at the base of the spine. While the spine has not compacted, it has compressed and that causes extreme pain. He also has a small fracture of his big toe. There is no danger of paralysis, and he certainly will be able to walk again. But it's very early to say whether he will ever race again."
Gillian O'Sullivan, a real medal hope in the 20km walk, is unable to shake a lower back injury that has hampered her training all summer. She will return to Ireland over the coming days.
Nick Sweeney is likely to miss the discus after injuring his right knee during weight training on Monday. A final decision on his participation will be made tomorrow.
It wasn't all doom and gloom. Galway's Eadaoin Ní Challarain managed to qualify for this morning's semi-final of the K1 single slalom at the canoe-kayak course.