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World champion shot putter withdraws because of knee injurySept 011 2000By BERT ROSENTHAL -- Associated Press BRISBANE, Australia -- C.J. Hunter, the 1999 world champion in the shot put and the husband of Marion Jones, withdrew from the Olympics Monday because of a knee injury. Hunter underwent arthroscopic surgery for a torn meniscus on his left knee Sept. 3 in North Carolina. He was injured during a weightlifting session at London in August. "I'm disappointed that the injury has forced me to withdraw from the Olympic Games," Hunter said in a statement released by USA Track & Field. "Marion and I had looked forward to competing together in Sydney, but I am a professional athlete and unfortunately, injuries are part of the game." Hunter, one of the favorites for a gold medal at the games, had said after the operation that he hoped to participate in the Olympic shot put, the first event of the track and field competition Sept. 22. But after consulting with Dr. Tim Taft, he decided to withdraw. Hunter, 31, was still coming to Australia to support his wife and other U.S. teammates. Jones is attempting to win an unprecedented five gold medals -- in the 100 and 200 meters, the 400 and 1,600 relay, and the long jump. Hunter will be replaced in the shot put by John Godina, the fourth-place finisher at the U.S. Olympic trials at Sacramento, Calif., in July. Godina, the 1996 Olympic silver medalist and the 1995 and 1997 world champion, also is entered in the discus. The 330-pound Hunter, the biggest athlete on the U.S. track team, continued to compete and train after the injury, thinking he was suffering from a recurrence of tendinitis in the knee. During the Aug. 25 Grand Prix meet in Berlin, Hunter's pain was so severe he passed on his final two attempts after fouling on three of his previous four tries. Ranked No. 1 in the world last year after winning the world championship with a throw of 71 feet, 6 inches, Hunter also was the bronze medalist at the 1997 World Championships. He is a three-time U.S. champion and the 1995 world indoor silver medalist. He finished seventh at the 1996 Olympics; he and Jones were married two years later. Check out the Jumpstart Athletics Canadian National Throws Rankings for complete rankings in the throws. If you have news, results or info please let us know by using our submission form or emailing Larry Steinke [ MEET INFORMATION ] [ ANALYSIS & TIPS ] [ THROWS ARTICLES ] [ INTERVIEWS ] [ RECORDS ] [ RESULTS ] [ CLASSIFIEDS ] [ HOT LINK ARCHIVE ] [ DISCUSSION FORUM ] [ SUBMISSIONS ] [ THROWERS QUIZ ] [ GUESTBOOK ] | ||