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Darren Campbell talks about Jessica Ennis
FORMER sprint king Darren Campbell says Jessica Ennis should not be rushed back into sport - for fear of damaging herself even more seriously.
Ennis discovered three stress fractures to her right foot after pulling out of an IAAF meet in Austria recently. Her dream of competing in the Olympics in August was suddenly in ruins.
Campbell, the former gold and silver Olympian, hs nothing but sympathy for the 22-year-old Sheffield athlete.
Talking in a video interview with The Star he said it was "devastating" for any top athlete to get injured so close to a competition it was devastating.
But Campbell advised against rushing back saying it was important Ennis had the right people around her during her rehabilitation.
"Jess is very young she has a great future. If she is hoping to have 10 years in the sport, then don't rush back from this injury" he said.
"Take your time make sure it heals correctly, she can get two or three more Olympics in that time.
"The key thing she is young; so be patient with her.
"Because she is one of the talented ones, sometimes it is a case of let's get things back on track and she can win us a medal.
"Well no it shouldn't work like that. Be patient and let her heal naturally in her own time, then it shouldn't cause any more problems."
Campbell, a hero in BB's gold run in the 2004 Athens 4x100 m relay, said he had read that Ennis is taking the injury as part and parcel of the sport.
"She is taking it on the chin and is saying she will be back in four years time. That is the only way to deal with it.
"If you sit down and get depressed about it, it is very difficult to come back."
He said Ennis' performances in last year's world championships - where she won the 100m hurdles, High Jump and finished one place off a medal, marked her out as a genuine contender.
But he said it was a fine line between keeping in the best shape possible and attracting injuries.
CLICK ON THE GREEN PLAY ICON ABOVE TO WATCH THE STAR VIDEO INTERVIEWWhat do you think? Post your comments below. READ MORE Football headlinesMore BladesMore OwlsMore SpireitesMore RoversMore RedsMore MillersMore Ice HockeyMore rugby leagueMore rugby unionMore boxingSports columnistsAll sport categoriesThe full article contains 427 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
