MELBOURNE, Australia, July 31 (Reuters) - Canada's Olympic champions are heading home from the Women's World Cup stunned and heartbroken - and still without a medal in the tournament from eight appearances. Canada are the first Olympic champions to be eliminated in the group stage of the next World Cup. Canada have won medals in their last three Olympics, but their best World Cup finish is fourth in 2003 - Sinclair's debut - in a puzzling lack of results at this tournament. With numerous underdogs performing well at this World Cup, it seems the world is catching up with North America and Europe, who have long dominated the women's game. Monday also marked the final Canadian game for 35-year-old Sophie Schmidt, who announced she would retire after this, her fifth World Cup.

---

Persons: Christine Sinclair, Sinclair, Bev Priestman, I've, Priestman, Katie McCabe's, Sam Kerr, Sophie Schmidt, Lori Ewing, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Australia, Down, Olympic, Canadians, Nigeria, Ireland, Aussie, North, Thomson Locations: MELBOURNE, Australia, Tokyo, Canada, Perth, Melbourne, France, Canadians, North America, Europe