FILE PHOTO: Athletics - World Athletics Championship - Men's Decathlon - National Athletics Centre, Budapest, Hungary - August 26, 2023 Canada's Pierce Lepage celebrates after winning the gold medal in the the men's decathlon REUTERS/Dylan Martinez/File Photo
(Reuters) - Canada's reigning world decathlon champion Pierce LePage has withdrawn from the Paris Olympics due to a herniated disc in his back which requires surgery.
The 28-year-old announced the news in a lengthy video on Instagram, saying he had hoped up until recently he would be able to push through the pain to compete for his first Olympic medal, but does not want to risk further injury ahead of next season.
