Journal Staff
Two-time Olympic hero Derek Drouin is not at the Tokyo Games.
The Corunna native and 2016 high jump gold medalist in Rio decided to skip the Olympic trials after a rigorous competitive schedule in Europe this spring took a toll.
“Unfortunately my body hasn’t recovered during my two-week quarantine the way we hoped it would,” he said in a social media post last month.
“My body isn’t ready but I take comfort in knowing we did absolutely everything in our power to get on that start line. Sometimes things don’t work out.”
The 31-year-old has reportedly battled a spinal injury and Achilles tendon tears.
Drouin took gold in Rio and an Olympic bronze four years earlier in London.
“Although this obviously isn’t how I expected my Olympic journey to end, I am beyond excited to watch my Canadian teammates write their own stories,” he said.