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Russia star Yulia set to miss Games
08.07.08
World 400metres hurdles record holder Yulia Pechyonkina is set to miss the Olympics because of a heart problem.
The 30-year-old could even consider retiring, said head coach of the Russian team, Valentin Maslako. "I don't think she'll be able to recover in time and compete in Beijing," he said.
"She started having health problems in April. She first had sinusitis, then, which is much more serious, heart problems."
Pechyonkina won the world title in 2005 in Helsinki and also finished second in 2007 and 2001. She set the the world record of
52.34secs in 2003, beating American Kim Batten's eight-year-old mark of 52.61secs but had a nightmare at the Athens Olympics 12 months later, finishing last in the final.
