Marquis Dendy, the pride of Middletown, Delaware, won’t be jumping in Rio due to an Achilles tendon injury he didn’t even know about.
The long jumper withdrew prior to Friday's Opening Ceremony and never even made the trip to the Rio Olympics. If healthy, Dendy, coming off gold in the most recent world championships, would have been among the favorites to win in Rio.
"I had full in my mind that I was going to run and jump and compete and win," said Dendy in a Facebook Live video over the weekend. [[389333222, C]]
He said he entered the Olympic Trials in early July battling a left ankle sprain that led to a right ankle injury.
"I hurt myself on the fourth jump, fourth attempt," said Dendy.
He said doctors told him MRIs didn’t reveal an Achilles tear after the trials but that once he was examined prior to the Rio Olympics it was discovered. He said the injury was so bad he should have actually had surgery after trials rather than now.
He said he was glad to forfeit his place before possible entirely rupturing his Achilles and doing more damage. [[388402491, C]]
The U.S. added long jumper Michael Hartfield to its track team after Dendy withdrew.
Though the news broke Friday, Dendy knew he wouldn’t be jumping about a week ago and never left for Rio, instead heading to Gainesville, Florida for treatment.
Dendy, who would have been jumping in his first Olympics, tweeted that he will be back and better than ever next year. [[389332452, C]]
