Heartbreak for Hansle Parchment on heels of Rio Games

Photo: 2012 Olympic bronze medallist in the 110m hurdles, Hansle Parchment, will miss the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio,Brazil, due to injury.

Four years ago, a virtual unknown Jamaican sprint hurdler, Hansle Parchment burst unto the track and field scene, stealing the bronze medal in the 110m hurdles finals in Beijing, China. Four years on and with medal expectations now high, the athlete will be unable to participate in the Rio Olympic Games due to fitness issues.

Parchment had sent in a medical exemption in order to skip the Olympic trials in Jamaica, having already secured the Olympic standard ahead of the National Championships, but with the Games scheduled to begin on Wednesday August 3^rd, a decision was taken Tuesday night, mere hours before the start of the games, to withdraw the athlete.

Track and field begins on August 12^th  but clearly the injuries worries plaguing Parchment are so serious as to keep him out of the games and he has since left the athletes village and will be replaced in the event by Andrew Riley, who finished third at the trials in Kingston, Jamaica.

Despite not running competitivelyfor at least two months, Parchment was still considered a medal prospect and much will now be expected of National champion are pre-games favourite, Omar McLeod, who will be participating in his first Olympic Games.