Steffensen Pulls Out of the Individual 400m

West Australian sprinter John Steffensen has pulled out of the 400m sprint to focus on the 400m team relay after persistent hamstring problems forced the 25 year old to reduce his Olympic schedule.

Steffensen – who was a member of the 2004 Athens team which claimed silver – has struggled to overcome a series of hamstring injuries in recent times and has decided to withdraw from the individual event in attempt to give his full attention to the relay.

“I have decided to focus all my energy onto the relay,” Steffensen told a media conference in Hong Kong today.

“I have got five other guys relying on me and I want to do everything to make sure Australia has the best relay team possible.

“Unfortunately when you have won before you know what it takes to be number one so when you know you are not there, you know how far away it is.

“Every time I have got better this year something else has happened and sometimes you have to make a wise decision.”

Australia’s 4x400m relay squad contains fellow Athens silver medallists Clinton Hill and Mark Ormrod and Olympic debutants Joel Milburn, Sean Wroe and Dylan Grant.

The 4x400m relay team won hearts Australia wide in Athens after winning silver against the odds in one of the most enduring moments of the 2004 Olympics.