Calf Injury Puts Tomlinson's Olympic Dream at Risk

British long jump record holder Chris Tomlinson is facing a battle to be fit in time for the Olympic Games after a scan on his injured right calf revealed a muscle tear. Tomlinson will now stay in London and undergo rehabilitation under the guidance of the UK Athletics medics, while his team-mates fly out to the Team GB training camp in Macau.

"It is a big blow for me, but I have just got to work with it," said Tomlinson, who withdrew from last weekend's London grand prix with the injury. "When I was on the runway at Crystal Palace, my calf seized up on me. We were hopeful that it was cramp, but deep down I had fears it was a tear and the scan confirmed that. I am now getting well looked after by the UK Athletics medical staff and I have every confidence in them. I will have a fitness test in a couple of weeks, but in the meantime I am keeping my head high and trying to stay positive. I know I have got the ability to jump as far as anyone in the world."

The long jump qualifying round in Beijing is due to begin on August 16, with the final scheduled for two days later.

"This is lousy timing for Chris with less than three weeks to go before he is due to compete in Beijing," said Dave Collins, the UK Athletics performance director. "In his condition, there is little to be gained by traveling to Macau. The best course of action available to us is to keep him here in the UK and give him every possible chance of regaining fitness and hopefully flying directly to Beijing. The next few days will be crucial in his recovery before we make the final assessment as to whether he is fit enough to perform at the Olympics."