Injury mars Goldie’s form

GOLDIE Sayers suffered further injury hell at the European Championships in Gothenberg at the weekend, but put in a spirited effort to finish 12th. The Ely-based javelin thrower, who is currently British number one, endured an injury to her adductor musc

GOLDIE Sayers suffered further injury hell at the European Championships in Gothenberg at the weekend, but put in a spirited effort to finish 12th.

The Ely-based javelin thrower, who is currently British number one, endured an injury to her adductor muscle in her groin during the warm-up, which meant that she had to apply added pressure to her upper-body.

Despite this, Sayers still managed to qualify for the final with a throw of 58.65 on Saturday.

Sayers struggled in the final on Sunday, with a strong head-wind, difficult track conditions, and the stress of having to compete for two days in a row, adding to her injury troubles. The 24-year-old threw 54.70, well short of her personal best of 61.45, which is marginally shorter than the 61.98 distance thrown by bronze medal winner Mercedes Chilla, of Spain.

The gold was won by Germany's Steffi Nerius, who threw 65.82, and Barbora Spotakova of the Czech Republic won silver with 65.64.

Sayers said: "My main worry was the ankle injury that I picked up in Crystal Palace the week before, but that was absolutely fine. It was very difficult, trying to cope with this new injury because the force of the throw comes from your legs rather than your arms."

Sayers has managed to throw a personal best every year since she first started competing at senior level, but a severe bout of bronchitis in May, and a knee injury in June, has meant that, this year, she has been unable to continue such progress.

Sayers is currently seeing a physiotherapist and striving to be fit in time for her final event of the year, the Norwich Union International against Russia, China and USA, this weekend.