Defending Olympic Pole-Vault Champ Gets 'Quite Ill' in Rio

Jenn Suhr, New York resident and defending Olympic pole vault champion, may not get a chance to win gold for the US again. "Jenn has fallen ill, quite ill in the last two days," her husband and coach, Rick, posted on Facebook Monday from Rio de Janeiro. "This morning it has really kicked in, she has lost her voice almost completely. Seems she picked up a nasty virus here and has caused respiratory complications. This sucks, and I mean really sucks! Seems so unfair, we came here in the greatest shape of our life. [Four] years of total dedication eaten up in one nasty virus that is only getting worse." Rick Suhr said Jenn will not withdraw from the women's pole vault competition, which begins Tuesday, but will hope medication has helped her condition by then, USA Today reports. (More Rio Olympics stories.)