COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Three-time United States Olympian Hunter Kemper will miss Sunday’s Hy-Vee ITU Triathlon Elite Cup in West Des Moines, Iowa, due to a pelvic stress fracture that was diagnosed in an MRI Wednesday.

“I’m very disappointed that this injury is going to cause me to miss the Hy-Vee Triathlon, an event that means so much to me. I’ve been gearing my training and racing schedule to be my at my best for Hy-Vee this Sunday,” said Kemper, who clinched his spot on the U.S. Olympic Team for the Beijing Games at the 2008 Hy-Vee Triathlon.

“I look forward to getting back on the racing circuit later this summer as I set my eyes on competing in the Life Time Fitness Triathlon Series Race to the Toyota Cup and the ITU World Championship Series Grand Final in Budapest. As I’m forced to take some time off to get 100 percent healthy, Val and I look forward to the birth of our second child later this month.”

“Hunter has a pelvic stress fracture he likely acquired from his rigorous training program,” said Dr. Bill Moreau, the USOC’s Director of Sports Medicine Clinics. “Debilitating as it is now for Hunter given his recent results, this injury can occur in elite athletes. However, it is one in which he should be expected to make a full recovery from with proper rest and rehabilitation. Over the past four years, Hunter has consistently displayed the physical, mental and emotional toughness for overcoming injury, and we have no doubt he’ll do that once again in fighting through this latest setback.”

Kemper finished 10th at the ITU World Championship Series opener in Sydney in April and picked up a win at the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon in San Francisco in May.

Kemper will still be in attendance at the Hy-Vee Triathlon, as he has created the A-T Cure Team to give people an opportunity to race for something greater than themselves and to help raise awareness about ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T), a rare and fatal genetic disease that strikes children. He will be signing autographs at the A-T Children's Project and Wheaties booths at the race venue throughout the weekend.

About USA Triathlon

USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon – one of the fastest growing sports in the world – as well as duathlon, aquathlon and winter triathlon in the United States. USAT sanctions 3,100 races and connects with more than 133,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work with athletes, coaches, and race directors on the grassroots level, USAT provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including World Championships, Pan American Games and the Summer Olympic Games.