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LONDON: British heptathlete Kelly Sotherton has been forced toretire from athletics due to a back injury, wrecking her hopes oftaking part in the London Olympics. The 35-year-old, who won a bronze medal at the 2004 AthensOlympics, underwent an an operation earlier this month to remove apiece of disc from her back. She was told at the time by her doctor that she could be runningagain within six weeks, that does not give her enough time to reachthe qualifying standard before the British team is picked. "I thanked (the doctor) for being optimistic but there's nochance," Sotherton told the Mail on Sunday. "You have to know whento stop." Sotherton, who returned to the heptathlon last year after quittingit in favour of the 400 metres in 2010, was competing at a combinedevents meet in Italy earlier this month when she broke down in the200metres and said she knew immediately the injury was seriousenough to end her dream. "As soon as it went I knew that was it," she said. "I could hardlywalk and could hardly move. At that moment, I said 'It's over'. Icried and I think it was hard for (therapist Paula Clayton) and(coach Aston Moore) to see because I was a gibbering wreck. "I can laugh now. But I was red-faced and it was quite embarrassingleaving the track because I don't want people to see me like that." Sotherton went to a spinal specialist who told her she neededsurgery. "I had already prepared myself for what he would say and thatrubber-stamped it," she said. "After that it was, 'Okay, it's arelief now'." Sotherton she will now sit back and take in the Olympics as a fan,and will be supporting Jessica Ennis, insisting that the rivalrybetween them had always been misunderstood. "If Jess was American or French, it wouldn't be so much of a botherbut she's British and she was taking my fans," Sotherton said. "Now I'm happy that she's British and I wouldn't really have meantthat a couple of years ago. I'm glad she's doing it. I can watchthe event now and get excited. I don't think it's as clear-cut aspeople think." - AFP/de. I am an expert from weem-abrasives.com, while we provides the quality product, such as Aluminum Oxide Sanding Belts Manufacturer , Sanding Screen Manufacturer, Wide Sanding Belts,and more.
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