Injury fears for Marathon defender Stefano Baldini – European Athletics (EAA) – NEWS – „I’ve not run for three days and my morale is low“

Italy's defending Olympic Marathon Champion Stefano Baldini is struggling with a thigh injury that could put his Olympic title defense in Jeopardy.

The 37-year-old endurance runner who was the toast of Athens in 2004, has struggled with injuries all year. He was told to rest this weekend, after experiencing small niggles in his thigh, but for a world class performer on the eve of the Olympic Games this is a tough prescription,

"I've not run for three days and my morale is low. I will train four times and if I have a setback I won't be able to race" said the disappointed Italian.

However Baldini has pulled a surprise performance out of the bag before: earlier this year he discovered a stress fracture in his left leg after finishing 12th in the London Marathon, the injury forced the passionate Italian out of training for over a month, yet he returned to the British capital in July to win the cities 10km in a blaze of determined glory.

At 37-years-old, this is likely to be Baldini's last Olympic Marathon, so you can be sure if he is fit to run, run he will!

European Athletics (EAA) – NEWS