Spanish cyclist Maribel Moreno, who pulled out of the Beijing Olympics just two days before they got underway, said Saturday she would justify her decision at a press conference in Spain on Monday.
In a statement, the cyclist apologized to the public and said whe would “explain and defend” her reasons for dropping out of the women’s road race and the time trial at the press conference in the north-eastern city of Zaragoza.
The 27-year-old, one of Spain’s greatest hopes for a cycling medal in Beijing, announced Thursday she would not be taking part in the Games after what has been described in the Spanish media as an “anxiety attack”.
The technical director of the Spanish cycling federation, Mikel Zabala, has said that Moreno’s decision was “personal”.
Spain’s Samuel Sanchez took the gold medal earlier Saturday in the Olympic cycling men’s road race.