Canadian decathlete Pierce LePage, the reigning world champion, has withdrawn from the Paris Olympics because of a back injury.

The 28-year-old from Whitby, Ont. announced his decision Wednesday in a post on Instagram.

“I really didn’t want to be here making this video, but I will not be going to Paris 2024 and that (expletive deleted) sucks,” he said. “In April, I suffered an L5, S1 disc herniation. At the time, the prognosis was looking good that I’d be ready for the Olympics but I just happen to be one of those people who don’t naturally heal from disc herniation.