Sally Thomas, the lone powerlifter on the Canadian Paralympic Games team, has been sent to hospital suffering from pneumonia, a team official said Friday.

"It started out as a cold, turned into bronchitis, then double pneumonia," said coach Donald Royer. "She is feeling much better now."

Thomas, 27, of Ottawa, became ill just two days after arriving in Beijing and was unable to compete at the Paralympics.

"She had worked so hard and she as very ready," said Royer. "She had a lot of experience. Her progression was steady. She was really looking forward to it."

Thomas finished seventh at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Royer said Thomas will probably return to Ottawa on Monday or Tuesday.