“Phillips felt a tightness in the muscle and tried to loosen it up but when it never happened and he felt he could aggravate the problem in competition, he decided on the precautionary approach and pulled out,” explained a UK Athletics spokesman.
“Hey guys, sorry to have to pull out, slight bit of muscle tightness. I will be fine in a day or 2,” Idowu tweeted later.
Hopefully, his diagnosis is correct but his lack of competition in Olympic summer has to be a considerable concern, even given all of his steel and experience.
In Idowu’s absence yesterday, Taylor simply reinforced his credentials as gold medal favourite as the only man capable of jumping more than 17 metres.
He capped his victory with a sixth-round leap of 17.41m, an extraordinary effort as the rain careered down. If anything, that should have been the real sight to worry Idowu.
Clearly, ever since he pulled out of a Diamond League meeting on a wet day in Eugene at the start of June worried that he might slip on the board, the Briton has not been quite himself.
For even if he denied this week that he has had any injuries, if he had felt anything remotely near his best he would surely have competed in at least one of the four events from which he has subsequently withdrawn.
He denied that he suffered a foot problem that day in Eugene and painted himself as an experienced athlete who knew exactly the best way to look after his body.
“I triple jump so I’m always feeling aches and pains,” he explained earlier in the week. “It’s Olympic year so I don’t want to do anything to jeopardise my chances of being in the best possible shape that I can be in at the Games.”
His preparations for London differ vastly from Idowu’s previous medal-winning exploits. He has had just three competitions this season, all in the space of a fortnight, winning two and getting beaten in Eugene.
Compare that to last year, during which he competed a dozen times before winning bronze at the world championships in Daegu. Before he won silver at the last Olympics, he had competed 11 times.
His fellow British triple jump medal hope Yamile Aldama who has been suffering injury problems of her own, struggling with an injured right shoulder incurred during the Diamond League meeting in Rome, returned to competition, satisfied with a third-placed finish and a fifth-round 14.37m leap.
“I’m happy. I’m in one piece and that’s the main thing,” said the world indoor champion. “This was the first time since the injury happened so I had to make sure nothing happened to my shoulder.
“The rhythm wasn’t there with some of the early jumps because I haven’t been able to do a full approach in training, but that will change in the next three weeks.”
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Divorce Lawyer in Marietta GA Launches Law Firm's New Website - PRLog (free press release)
The Gunn Firm in Marietta Georgia, a law firm specializing in divorce and family law, has launched a new website for their Cobb County law firm. The law firm's website was redesigned and expanded to offer more information on divorce laws in Georgia and family law in Georgia.
The Gunn Firm is an established divorce and family law firm located at the Marietta Square in Marietta, Georgia. The founding attorney is Mr. John Gunn, and the firm employs a full staff of attorneys, paralegals and support staff that serve clients in the counties of Cobb, Cherokee, Fulton, Paulding and Bartow. The new website offers persons needing a divorce lawyer or family law practice the opportunity to learn about the experience and guiding principles of the firm, and learn about the education and background of each attorney.
The new divorce and family law website provides fairly deep content on the major topics that are of interest to clients involved in divorce or family law matters. Specifically, the new website presents rich information on uncontested divorce in Georgia and contested divorce in Georgia, including the pros and cons of both ways to file for divorce in Georgia.
Other pages address child custody issues, child and spousal support, visitation and contempt matters, and related subjects.
Attorney John Gunn stated, "one of our objectives with the new website is to convey to prospective clients that our firm provides a full level of services and excellent representation, and we also seek to keep legal fees as low as reasonably possible. We want clients to know that our intent is to serve them well in all regards".
The divorce and family law website may be seen at http://www.TheGunnFirm.com and feedback on the new website is welcomed. The law firm offers free consultations that include a disclosure of anticipated cost of services and discussion of legal options.
Source: www.prlog.org
Five questions facing Team USA before the London Olympics - YAHOO!
LAS VEGAS – Team USA has already dealt with its share of challenges in the opening week of training camp, and plenty of questions still remain on the Americans' road to London.
Contract situations, fatigue and injuries limited the progress of Team USA. Three players – Eric Gordon, Rudy Gay and Anthony Davis – were cut and named alternates. After Blake Griffin suffered a major knee injury that will keep him off the Olympic roster, Davis, the 20-year-old top pick in last month's NBA draft, was added.
Blake Griffin won't play in the Olympics because his left knee is hurting."There have been a lot of distractions – not Vegas distractions, but contract, injury, different situations during these first eight days," Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski said.
Team USA hopes to limit those distractions before its Olympic competition starts on July 29. Here are five questions facing the Americans before they arrive in London:
1. Who will start for Team USA?
Chris Paul started at point guard, with Kobe Bryant at shooting guard, LeBron James at small forward, Carmelo Anthony at power forward and Tyson Chandler at center in Team USA's exhibition victory over the Dominican Republic. Unless Paul’s thumb injury worsens, expect him to remain as the starting point guard. The only position in question is power forward, where Anthony started in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
[Related: Video: Kyrie Irving challenges Kobe Bryant to game of 1-on-1; Kobe raises the stakes]
It’s possible that Kevin Durant, who scored 24 points off the bench against the Dominican Republic, ends up starting over Anthony. Durant, however, also has a comfort level playing with Oklahoma City Thunder teammates Russell Westbrook and James Harden, both of who will come off the bench.
"Coach just said before we went out on the floor that 'Melo was starting and I was like, ‘That’s cool with me. Whatever the team needs,' " Durant said. "That’s something we may do down the line, but I really don’t know. It was a little different coming off the bench, you know. I was there for three or four minutes, but then he left me out there for the rest of the first [quarter]. So, either way I felt good."
2. Who will be Team USA’s biggest competition in London?
Spain is led by the Gasol brothers, Marc and Pau. The Spanish roster also includes NBA players Serge Ibaka, Rudy Fernandez, Jose Calderon and rookie Victor Claver – Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio is out with a knee injury. Ibaka has already claimed Spain has as much talent as the Americans. USA defeated Spain in the gold-medal game during the Beijing Olympics.
Argentina, the 2004 Olympic gold medalists, is always a threat while led by Manu Ginobili and Luis Scola. France has Tony Parker, Nicolas Batum and Boris Diaw, but is missing Joakim Noah. Lithuania and Brazil are also countries to watch.
"When you put on this jersey, there’s a sense of pride for us, a sense of patriotism," Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love said. "So, we just want to get out there and play as hard as we possibly can, no matter who we’re playing, no matter what night it is. At the end of the day we’re going for the gold on August 12."
3. Could this be the most athletic and fastest team in Olympic history?
[Related: Anthony Davis ready to fill Blake Griffin's role for Team USA in Olympics]
Speed and athleticism are major weapons for Team USA – and that’s without Griffin. Westbrook, Chris Paul and Deron Williams are all speedsters, and Durant, Anthony, James and Bryant can also fill the lane on the break.
Kevin Durant could eventually start over Carmelo Anthony in London.Team USA scored 63 points in the second half against the Dominican Republic. Any country that is forced into a track meet with Team USA will lose. Expect Westbrook, Paul and Williams to pressure opposing teams' ball-handlers. Andre Iguodala will be a defensive specialist on the wing while Chandler, James and Davis challenge shots.
"It is like a dream," Anthony said. "I get a rebound, I push the ball up the floor and I have Kobe one way, LeBron one way, I have K.D. trailing and I got Chris Paul out there, too. It is kind of surreal."
4. Will size matter for Team USA?
The Americans have only three players taller than 6-foot-9: Chandler (7-1), Love (6-10) and Davis (6-10). The one benefit of adding Davis to the roster is he can provide some needed length.
Anthony, Durant and James can take turns playing power forward and possibly even some center with smaller lineups. What Team USA lacks in size, it makes up in versatility with a roster of players who can play multiple positions. The U.S. had Paul, James, Anthony, Bryant and Durant on the floor at the same time during one stretch of the first half against the Dominican Republic.
Size, however, will be the biggest concern against Spain because of the Gasol brothers: Marc stands 7-1 and Pau is 7-0. But if James, Durant or Anthony play power forward or center, the Spaniards could have trouble using big men to defend them. Expect Krzyzewski to use Team USA's speed and athleticism to compensate for the lack of size.
[Related: Thunder stars hope Olympics ease sting of NBA Finals loss to Heat]
When asked what is Team USA’s biggest concern, Anthony said with a laugh, "We’re small – too small."
5. How is Team USA's chemistry?
Team USA's chemistry is the best since it began using NBA players in 1992. James and Anthony will be playing on their third Olympic team. James, Anthony, Bryant, Paul and Deron Williams won Olympic gold medals together four years ago in Beijing. Durant, Chandler, Westbrook, Love and Iguodala won gold medals together two years ago at the world championships.
The only U.S. players without international experience at the senior level are Harden and Davis. No U.S. team has had a roster with that much familiarity or international experience.
"Overall, one of the things we wanted to accomplish here was to develop good camaraderie," Krzyzewski said. "Guys seemed to get along really well. They pull for each other, and they play hard. Now, we have to translate that into an effective system, both offensively and defensively, and they have to get to know one another, and we have to get to know them in this context."
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Source: sports.yahoo.com
London 2012: Dai Greene upbeat on Olympic chances - BBC News
Dai Greene is still confident of winning Olympic gold despite finishing second behind rival Javier Culson at the London Diamond League.
Greene was beaten by Culson for the second consecutive week having finished behind the Puerto Rican in Paris.
Despite being beaten in his last race before London 2012, Greene was not too downbeat.
"I'm looking forward to the Olympics and hopefully I can get one over Culson then," he said.
"I wanted a bit more. I would have loved to get the win before a home crowd."
At the Diamond League in Paris, Greene had clocked a new personal best of 47.84 to miss Kriss Akabusi's 20-year record by just 0.02s.
Greene second at Crystal Palace
And the 26-year-old from Llanelli believes he is peaking at the right time ahead of the Olympics, with the 400m hurdles first round on 3 August.
The World Champtrion, appointed Team GB's athletics captain , has seen his training and his preparation for the Games blighted with injury and a virus .
"My top-end speed has been better the last few weeks but it needs to improve again and hopefully I can get it right for the Olympics," he added.
"I think it was my third fastest time ever so I can't be too disappointed.
"I've run faster than I did last year already so it seems to be boding well. In a few weeks' time Culson may be tiring [and] hopefully I'll run a bit faster.
"It should be a good final. I've got a few more weeks to get a bit sharper for the Olympics and I'm going in the right direction I think."
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Kite surfers take to Worthing seafront for highest jump event - BBC News
Kite surfers are vying for points for the highest jumps in an inaugural event being held in West Sussex.
The Big Air Open on Worthing seafront is part of the Olympic torch relay weekend, with the flame arriving in the town on Monday afternoon.
The competition, with 36 entrants, is based on a "how high can you jump format", with points awarded for the maximum height reached.
There are 28 heats, each lasting eight minutes with three riders in each heat.
The winner will receive a cash prize of £800 and the title of Big Air Open Champion 2012.
Pier jumper Lewis Crathern will be commentating and judging the competition.
He lives in Worthing and is a former British kite surfing champion.
Organisers hope it will become "a classic kite surfing event" well beyond the Olympic year.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
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