World taekwondo champion Sarah Stevenson suffers cruciate ligament damage

[divingbrit]

World champion Sarah Stevenson's participation in the Olympics is in doubt after she underwent surgery yesterday to repair cruciate ligament damage sustained at a recent training camp in Mexico.
The 28 year-old has until the end of May to prove her fitness when the Great Britain selectors will nominate their four-strong squad for the London Olympics.

Stevenson will miss the forthcoming Dutch and German Opens and almost certainly the European Championships in Manchester from May 3-6.

She is, though, optimistic of making it to the capital where she will be looking to emulate the bronze medal she won in Beijing.

Stevenson said: "I feel that this is just a blip in my preparation for London 2012.

"I've been through worse and I can get through this. I'm strong mentally and physically and this is only going to make me more determined.

"And with all the support from the best medical staff at GB Taekwondo and the EIS, I'm determined to be at the Olympics."

Stevenson suffered the injury during a training session in Mexico City and immediately flew home for assessment accompanied by coach and husband, Steve Jennings and Great Britain performance director Gary Hall.

However, Hall and the GB selectors are now potentially faced with a difficult selection decision.

Bianca Walkden, the former world number two from Liverpool but currently competing at +73kg, is looked upon as Stevenson's understudy.

"We will be supporting every single girl who is in contention within the -67kg weight category to make sure they are best prepared for the task," said Hall.

"The decision will go to the best person to do the job as there is an open selection procedure."

He added: "If anyone can return from this then Sarah can. She is a consummate professional and will be doing everything in her power to show the selectors she is the girl for the job."


Telegraph.co.uk