Athletics-Injured Macey doubtful for decathlon
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-08-07 16:49
GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Aug 6 - Britain's Commonwealth champion Dean Macey
has a groin injury and is a doubt for the decathlon at the European
championships.
Macey said he sustained the problem during his final training session before
flying out to Gothenburg and would make a decision on his participation in the
10-discipline event on Tuesday or Wednesday.
"If there's a chance that I can get out there and be dangerous I will be on
that (start) line," Macey told a news conference on Sunday. "I didn't fly out
here for the trip.
"If I'm on that line then there's no excuses for me not to get a medal.
"I certainly think that if (world record holder) Roman (Sebrle) produces his
best then I'll be unlikely to challenge but if he cocks one event up I'll be
there to pick up the pieces. I think I'm the best of the rest and if I start, I
fully expect myself to win a medal."
The 28-year-old has been plagued by injury since bursting on to the
international scene with a surprise silver medal at the 1999 world
championships.
He missed the 2005 season with a knee injury but returned to win the
Commonwealth title in Melbourne in March after 18 months without competition.
"I'm just being as mentally and physically positive as possible, getting as
much treatment as I need," Macey said of his chances of competing in Sweden.
"There's no end to the amount of work that everyone's put in over the last
couple of years so in that respect this is a good opportunity to pay everyone
back."
The two-day decathlon competition starts on Thursday. Czech athlete Sebrle is
the defending champion.
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