World Triathlon

Italian Nadia Cortassa will not compete in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games after withdrawing with an injury.  This year’s European Championships silver medalist was involved in a bike accident on July 6 and suffered a trochanteric hip fracture.  She had hoped to compete in Beijing but was not able to recover in time.

Cortassa has been replaced on the start list by compatriot Daniela Chmet.  Because Italy qualified two women through ITU’s Olympic qualification and the Italian National Olympic Committee accepted both spots, it was able to keep Cortassa’s spot and name Chmet to the team.

Click here for updated women’s triathlon start list

A veteran of the ITU circuit, Cortassa is a 4-time medalist at the European Championships, including earlier this year in Lisbon, Portugal.  She finished 5th at the Athens Olympic Games.  Prior to taking up triathlon, Cortassa competed in modern pentathlon. 

Beijing will be Chmet’s first Olympic Games.  She will line up on the Beijing pontoon with the rest of the elite women on Monday August 18th at 10am.  Click here for start times in your area

Click here for the ITU’s Official Olympic website