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Barber looks set to cut her Olympic bid short

From Sports Illustrated • SI Images: Photos from the Games • Tim Layden: Miller close to 200 decision • Richard Hoffer: Media avoids collusion with boxing • Grant Wahl: U.S. soccer women "set" for success • Jack McCallum: All in the family • Medal Picks: SI's Predictions More Features • Wake-up Call: Tracking the day in sports • Viewers' Guide: What to watch for • Quiz: Today's Tester Athletes • Just Checking In: U.S. softball pitcher Michele Smith • Fashion Report: Miki Barber -- Very hip, very trendy • Just Checking In: U.S. swim assistant Jack Bauerle • Athlete Bios: U.S. Rosters Multimedia • Photo Gallery: Shots of the Day • Photo Gallery: Racing in the rain • Multimedia Central: Photo Galleries, Video and More

SYDNEY, Sept 24 (AFP) - France's world heptathlon champion Eunice Barber looked set to call time on her bid to secure the Olympic title here on Sunday when she made only one jump in the long jump and called it quits.

The 25-year-old Sierra Leone-born athlete, who has been troubled by injuries throughout the season and was a major doubt coming into the Games, did not look in great shape on the Saturday as she plummetted from leading the competition after two events to seventh place by the end of the day's proceedings.

Should Barber, who also split with her coach days before the Games began, pull out it will increase the misery within the French athletics camp.

Not only have they lost 1997 400m hurdles champion Stephane Diagana, who could not compete because of tendinitis, but they have also been embarrassed by triple Olympic champion Marie Jose Perec's dramatic walkout the day before she was due to compete in the 400m.

Worse could still be to come as their reigning Olympic pole vault champion Jean Galfione has been troubled by an Achilles tendon injury but will try to make it through qualifying on Wednesday.

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