Bobsleigh - GB's Pickering forced to withdraw from Olympics

Bobsleigh athlete Picking sustained a L3-4 acute disc prolapse on Sunday during training at Team GB’s bobsleigh preparation camp in Konigsee, Germany.

Pickering returned to Britain on Tuesday for assessment at Bisham Abbey by the English Institute of Sport/BOA Intensive Rehbilitation Unit, who determined that the injury is too severe for him to be able to complete at the Olympics.

The news makes for double heartbreak for 27-year-old Pickering, who had to miss out on the London 2012 Summer Olympics - where he hoped to compete as a sprinter - due to a similar injury.

He said: “Having missed out on competing at the London 2012 Games due to a back injury I am devastated to have suffered a similar fate just days before the start of Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

“We worked so hard to qualify the GBR 2 sled for Games and I am gutted that I won’t be on the start line with Lamin, John and Ben.

“I would like to thank all the staff at British Bobsleigh who have been incredibly helpful in making sure I've had the best support and treatment both in Germany and back in the UK.

“I will cheering the boys on from the UK and wish the rest of Team GB the best of luck in Sochi.”

Gary Anderson, team leader for British Bobsleigh, said: "This is a big blow and I am personally devastated for Craig.

"I spoke with him just after we heard from the doctors and he was clearly very upset, he had worked so hard to get to the point of selection for Sochi.

“Craig is a very professional athlete and his concern for the team illustrated that, we had Craig sent back to the UK from our preparation camp in Germany to confirm the original diagnosis but it was pretty clear from the outset that this was going to be tough for him."