Reigning World and Olympic High Jump Champion Derek Drouin Out of Canadian Outdoor Championships

By Adam Kopet, DyeStat Editor

The CBC reports Derek Drouin has withdrawn from the Canadian Outdoor Championships. The reigning world and Olympic high jump champion cited a nagging Achilles' tendon injury as the reason.

In addition to attempting to defend his world title at the IAAF World Outdoor Championships next month in London, Drouin has also spent time preparing to compete in the decathlon at next year's Commonwealth Games.

Drouin, who got his start in the multis, owns a personal best of 7-10.5 (2.40m). Earlier this year, while competing at the Sam Adams Combined Events Invitational, he set a world best for the decathlon high jump, clearing 7-5.75 (2.28m).

Drouin has a season best this year of 7-6.5 (2.30m) from the Drake Relays. He failed to clear a height at the Shanghai Diamond League meeting and he tied for third at the Bislett Games, Oslo's Diamond League meeting, with a clearance of 7-4.5 (2.25m).

"I've been dealing with a nagging Achilles issue and my doctor told me this morning that it wasn't in the best interests of my health to compete," Drouin said in a statement released through Athletics Canada.

Despite missing the Canadian Outdoor Championships, Drouin is still scheduled to compete for Canada in London.