13th August 2008

Hatti Dean has been withdrawn from Team GB after failing to recover sufficiently from an ankle injury. The 3000m steeplechase athlete will now sit out the Olympic Games and continue her recovery at home in Sheffield.

Dean was making progress after working closely with the UK Athletics Medical Team on a schedule that could have seen her take her place on the start-line in Beijing, had the injury fully healed.

After three weeks of aqua jogging, she returned to running but has felt more pain in the ankle and has taken the decision to withdraw.

Dean said: "It is very disappointing, I feel like I am fit, but the ankle is unable to handle running quite yet. I will now go back to running in the water."

"I don’t think I’ll be ready to race on the track again this year. I will just have to focus upon the cross country season this winter."

Helen Clitheroe (Preston Harriers) and Barbara Parker (City of Norwich) are Team GB’s other representatives in the women’s 3000m steeplechase, the heats of which take place on Friday 15 August.  There was no nominated reserve.