12th April 2012 02:09
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| French sprinter Martial Mbandjock is confident of staging a strong comeback at the 2012 European Athletics Championships in Helsinki this summer, after struggling with a string of injuries in 2011. |
Sadly, 2011 was blighted by Achilles problems and Mbandjock missed the World Championships last summer but the 26-year-old from Lille believes that he will be a force to be reckoned with again at this summer's European Athletics Championships in Helsinki, which will be held from 27 June to 1 July.
“I struggled with tendinitis in my left Achilles tendon throughout last summer, and that created other imbalances in the hamstrings and hips. I kept running until it was no longer possible,” explained Mbandjock to the French athletics federation website www.athle.com.
“In fact, I came back and competed too early after the injury. I did a couple of races this winter to see where I was but I got a little sore knee and so I preferred to stop right there. However, I will be 100 per cent soon.
“I am planning my return for the the second round of the French Inter-clubs Championships and I see the European Athletics Championships in Helsinki as an important transit point, a good preparation for the really big league, including the Olympics.
'I hope to be at the Olympics again this year. It is a competition that thrills those who have never participated and, for those that have, it makes you want to taste it again. The Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 remain as one of my best memories as an athlete.'
Mbandjock has spent regular periods during the last four years training in the United States, where he is usually based in Los Angeles.
“I have developed a lot in the United States. The last four seasons have been worthwhile, they were very rich. I have a part of my life, a circle of friends in the United States. I will still go back there regularly after my career is over. Maurice Greene (the American former 100m world record holder and 2000 Olympic 100m champion) helped me a lot during this period when I was injured. He has also experienced this when he was an athlete.
“They were difficult times when I was injured but injuries are also part of the life of a top athlete. It's always on the edge when you're looking for high performance. In these times, we must learn to keep a cool head,” reflected Mbandjock.
As well as standing on the medal podium again at the European Athletics Championships, Mbandjock is aiming to also improve this summer on his personal bests of 10.06 and 20.38, which date from 2008 and 2010 respectively.