Steve Cram Injures Leg in Tuneup Race in Italy

Steve Cram, one of Britain’s top medal hopes for the Olympic Games, injured his right leg in a 1,000-meter race Wednesday night in one of the final tuneup meets at Rieti, Italy.

Cram was able to slowly walk off the track and return by car to his hotel.

“I believe it is just a small muscle tear,” he said. “The tendon was sore before the race, so when I felt a pain on the backstretch, a sort of a tap, I stopped. It should be OK in a couple of days. I hope to be training within two days.”

However, Bernardino Petrucci, the track doctor, said he thought Cram had injured his Achilles’ tendon. The doctor said Cram would have to rest for at least 10 days even if the injury were not very serious and there were “serious chances” Cram would not be able to run at Seoul.