12.08.2009

Hooker hits hurdle on way to Berlin

Australian Flame Steve Hooker has experienced an injury setback in his final preparations for the 2009 IAAF world championships which commence in Berlin this Saturday.

The Olympic pole vault gold medalist strained his adductor on his right leg during a training session on Monday, with corresponding scans taken upon his arrival in Berlin last night revealing a grade one tear.

"I was training on Monday night and did a take off and felt something in my adductor. I felt nothing in it prior to the incident. I actually felt physically as good as I have felt in a very very long time and was running really well," Hooker said.

"The injury took place ten days before qualifying so I guess at this point I am a 50/50 (percent chance) at best of competing. We are going to do whatever we can to treat it aggressively and get me in as good of a position as we can before the qualifying round.

"It's a bit disappointing. I guess it's just a bit of bad luck."

The 27-year old will work with a team of medical staff and his coach Alex Parnov to give himself the best possible opportunity of being fit for competition come the qualifying round on Thursday, 20 August.
 
"It is sort of going to be a day by day process to figure out where we are at," Hooker said.

"I am getting a series of injections over this week and I definitely won't be doing any pole vaulting before the qualifying to test it out. If it comes down to it, the first time I will be jumping will be in the qualifying."

"It might be a minute before the calling (before I make my final decision). 

"For me, it's the risk of greater injury that is the concern. If I can go out there with a level of confidence that I am not going to make the injury worse, then I will go out there and jump."

Hooker, who was presented with the team captaincy earlier today, will use his team leadership role to support his teammates and as a positive focus during the injury treatment.

"For me, (the team captaincy) gives me something else to focus on. I can try to help the other guys compete as well as they can, give them advice and try and lead them in a way I wouldn't have been able to if I was 100% focused on my competition. In that sense, it is an opportunity and something positive for me to focus on."

"Until the moment, if it eventuates, that I withdraw, I am going to think that I am going out there and compete. That's the mentality I have to have if I am going to go out there and have any chance of being competitive."

Hooker can draw some encouragement about his ability to achieve quality results from disrupted preparations from his European and Australian season earlier this year. He suffered a knee injury, restricting his training abilities, yet produced an impressive campaign that included four six-meter jumps and a new personal best of 6.06m.

The 12th IAAF World Championships will be held in Berlin from August 15 - 23.