Rower Tracy Cameron walks away from Olympic spot

Former world champion and Olympic bronze medallist Tracy Cameron, who was expected to compete for Canada at the London Olympics, has retired from rowing.

"I am following my heart and moving forward," Cameron said in a release issued by Rowing Canada on Friday, less than 50 days from the start of the Games."This is a very difficult decision. I believe in the Olympic values and have lived my life with excellence, respect and friendship at the forefront of everything that I do. With those values as my guide, I knew that I could no longer stay in the double."

Cameron, from Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia, won the 2008 Olympic bronze medal in the lightweight women’s double sculls event with Melanie Kok, then teamed with Lindsay Jennerich to win gold at the 2010 world championships.

An injury kept Cameron out of last year’s world championships, and Jennerich teamed with Patricia Obee to win a silver medal.

Cameron and Jennerich were selected to compete together at a World Cup event in Switzerland last month in preparation for the Olympics, but the pair’s old chemistry appeared to be missing as they failed to qualify for the "A" final.

Rowing Canada did not say who might replace Cameron in the lightweight women’s double. Canada has qualified one boat in the event in London.

The entire Canadian rowing team is expected to be officially announced later this month.