Posted: August 24, 2004

Athletics: Pappas withdraws from decathlon

ATHENS - Tom Pappas, who was in fifth place in the decathlon with 6,182 points entering the pole vault, withdrew from competition Tuesday at Olympic Stadium.

He experienced pain in his left foot on his first pole vaul5 attempt at 4.60 meters/15-1.

According to Ed Ryan, the director of sports medicine for the U.S. Olympic Committee, Pappas has an acute strain in his left foot, to be further evaluated.

Below are quotes from Pappas:

"It happened halfway through my first run. It had been bothering me through all the warm-up jumps, but I was trying to run more on the outside of my foot and trying not to worry about the pain. But one particular step I got a sharp pain. It wasn't right and ever since that jump, I got it retaped and did some strides but the pain was getting worse."

Had he experienced pain prior to pole vault?: "I don't know when it initially started. But it was sore yesterday. I woke up this morning and it was just really stiff in my arch. I had it worked on this morning before the hurdles and after the warm-ups it started feeling a little better. But on my last hurdle rep at the practice track, it started hurting.

"It didn't bother me in the discus. I think just sitting around for maybe an hour after the discus, I thought I might be in trouble. It really started to hurt. It took forever to try to warm it up a little bit. It was one of those things where it wasn't getting any better."

On how he feels: "It doesn't feel too good right now. I had high expectations coming into the meet. But more than anything I am just worried about my foot."