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Chinese Olympic organizers have eliminated wheelchair racing from the Beijing Games, Radio-Canada learned Friday.

As a result, Quebec-born paralympic wheelchair racing champion Chantal Petitclerc will not compete in the Beijing Olympics in August.

Montreal's Chantal Petitclerc currently holds three world records in wheelchair racing.
(Mark Baker/Associated Press)

Wheelchair racing has been a demonstration sport in the Olympics, as well as a major paralympic event, since 1984.

Petitclerc will compete at the Beijing Paralympics, which run Sept. 7-17.

She has long argued that wheelchair racing should move from a demonstration sport to a fully recognized sport at the Olympics.

Petitclerc said Friday's decision is a huge step backward for the sport. The Olympic event has been a huge showcase not just for wheelchair racing but for all paralympic athletes, she said.

Radio-Canada says International Olympic Committee and International Paralympic Committee officials did not return calls from Radio-Canada.

Petitclerc is one of the greatest athletes ever to practice wheelchair racing, having won five Olympic gold medals in Athens in 2004. She currently holds three world records.

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