Paula Findlay Diagnosed With Iron-Deficiency Anemia

Canada’s Paula Findlay finished a disappointing 52nd-place at the 2012 London Olympics.

Paula Findlay has iron-deficiency anemia, a diagnosis that has wiped out her hopes of finishing a hellish year on a high note at the triathlon world championships in New Zealand next month.

Findlay revealed she suffers from the serious, but treatable condition on her personal blog on Tuesday, a little more than a month after she tearfully and apologetically crossed the finish line in last place at the London Olympics on Aug. 4.

That disappointment seemed to be the nadir of a 13-month battle to overcome what was first diagnosed as a minor hip injury she suffered while training in late June 2011. Now this.

“It’s definitely was one of the factors that played into that (London) race,” Findlay said in a telephone interview from Guelph, Ont. “It’s a little bit comforting, well, not comforting, but to know that there was an actual reason I performed that way.

“It wasn’t because of my injury. My injury was all better.”

The 23-year-old Findlay had her sights set on rebounding with a strong performance in Auckland, N.Z., in late October, and was initially devastated that opportunity won’t be possible now.

Read more: Edmontonjournal.com