Rowing: Canada's golden girl withdraws from Olympics

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

One of the Olympics' great female rowers, triple gold medallist Marnie McBean, has abruptly withdrawn from the Canadian team after arriving in Australia.

McBean, who has four Olympic medals to her name, was suffering from severe back pain and spasms when the team began their final training in Rockhampton.

The 31-year-old, who was to have competed in the single sculls, reluctantly pulled out of the Games because the pain was too bad.

"I didn't want to give up and stop hoping, because my spirit is not about that," she said.

"But I'm not going to be foolish and row in great pain."

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