Team GB suffer Olympic gold medal setback as former world champion Jake Wightman forced to withdraw
Jake Wightman has pulled out of the Olympics
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Team GB have been forced into a last-minute change to their 800m line-up with former world champion Jake Wightman pulling out of the Paris Olympics due to injury.
Wightman won gold at the 2022 World Championships in the 1,500m race and was selected by Great Britain to run in the 800m at Paris Olympics.
Following his breakthrough campaign two years ago, Wightman suffered multiple injury setbacks that put his place in Paris under threat.
Wightman missed out on qualifying in the 1,500m event in Paris, but was selected to run in the 800m after being granted a medical exemption from the trials.
Jake Wightman has pulled out of the Olympics
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Despite his injury woes, Wightman was seen as one of Team GB's gold medal hopefuls for the Paris Olympics.
But the Scottish athlete has withdrawn from the Olympic Games due to an injury setback, Team GB have announced.
They said: “Jake Wightman has been forced to withdraw from Paris 2024 due to a hamstring injury.
"Elliot Giles has been called up as a late athlete replacement and will race in the men’s 800m at his third Games."
Elliot Giles suffered heartbreak at the UK Championships in Manchester last month in his bid to qualify for the Olympics.
He appeared in strong contention to secure a top-two finish and bag qualification to the Olympics, but he fell with 50m to go and took out Josh Kerr in the process.
Max Burgin and Ben Pattison ended up crossing the line first and second to secure qualification for the Paris Olympics.
But Wightman's withdrawal has given Giles an unlikely route back to the Games and potentially ending his summer holiday early.
Jake Wightman was one of the favourites for a medal
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Taking to Instagram last week, Giles posted a video of his family on a camping trip in the Swiss Alps.
His caption read: "The Olympics might not be happening for me, but the show must go on.
"Being the ultimate professional I am, we decided to flee the UK during the Olympics for a training camp in the Swiss Alps St Moritz it is!
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Elliot Giles fell in the qualifying event earlier this summer
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"Training camp on a budget, 1/10th of the price of a hotel and the kids love it!
"I'll be ready and waiting to compete when the games are over; the fire still burns!"
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