Jana still toey for Beijing build-up
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Jenny McAsey | January 18, 2008
WORLD champion Jana Rawlinson has had foot surgery and will be out of action for next month’s grand prix meets in Sydney and Melbourne.
Rawlinson experienced pain in the second toe on her right foot late last week and had an operation in Melbourne on Wednesday to remove loose cartilage and clean up the joint.
The toe injury will keep her off the track for at least three weeks, but she believes it won’t affect her long-term preparation or performance at the Beijing Olympics in August.
“The toe wasn’t excruciating, but I had lost so much range of movement because I couldn’t quite get onto my toes and sprint,” Rawlinson said yesterday from her hospital bed.
"Every time I walked I could feel the bit moving in my toe and the doctors said that would not go away, so it was best to have the operation.
"The rest of me is in great shape - I haven’t got hamstring or back problems.
"Everything is great except this foot, so who would think that a tiny little toe that is three centimetres long could possibly stop you from running.
“It is funny in some respects,” she said.
Laughter was not Rawlinson’s initial response on Monday when she got the results of an MRI scan on the toe and was told surgery was the best option.
The world 400m hurdles champion had been desperate to remain injury-free in the lead-up to the Olympics.
“Initially I felt disappointed because my perfect plan was to have no injuries through to the Olympics, but I knew I would get one sometime … so I am lucky it has happened now rather than in three or four months’ time.”
The operation went to plan, with Melbourne-based specialist Mark Blackney able to do keyhole, or arthroscopic, surgery on the toe. That means there was no open wound or stitches, and healing time is reduced.
Rawlinson was resting in hospital yesterday but is returning home to Sydney today to begin intensive rehabilitation in a hyperbaric chamber.
She won’t be able to run for several weeks, but is hoping to be fit enough to compete at the national athletics championships in Brisbane on February 28.
They also double as the Olympic selection trials but Rawlinson, who won the world title last August, is already guaranteed her berth in Beijing.
And the positive side is that she is certain the surgery will have no impact on her chance of winning Olympic gold.
“It is so far away and as long as I rehab this well, I don’t think it will have any impact at all,” Rawlinson said.
“I will have three weeks off running, but can do gym and bike work and hopefully still run (at the) nationals. As long as I am in PB (personal best) shape by the Olympics I am not worried.”
Rawlinson did not run during the summer domestic season last year as she was recovering from the birth of her first child, son Cornelis, in December 2006.
As well, she had a serious foot injury in February 2007 when she tore the plantar fascia. Despite those obstacles, and only four months’ serious training, she won the world title in Japan.
“I love the Australian season and I will really miss not running it, so hopefully I can be right for Brisbane,” she said.
“But realistically I think people prefer us to come out and win medals at the Olympics rather than run domestically.”
[b]Another Olympic hopeful, John Steffensen, was getting on with his training yesterday after the resolution of a dispute with AA selector and 1984 Olympic gold medallist Glynis Nunn-Cearns.
Steffensen was cleared for his alleged verbal attack on Nunn-Cearns, with his lawyers arguing a point of law in relation to AA’s disciplinary policy.
The tribunal panel also believed the case against Steffensen was weak, and took into account that he expressed remorse for the encounter with Nunn-Cearns. [/b]