Loughnane taking no chances before Athens

OLIVE LOUGHNANE has pulled out of next weekend’s IAAF World Race Walking Cup in Naumburg, Germany, following an injury that resulted in the loss of valuable training time in preparation for her Olympic bid in Athens next August.

While she is already back in full training she felt that she would not be in a position to do herself justice in Naumburg and, in the context of her Athens preparations, it would mean losing more time - a week tapering down and another week resting afterwards - which she could ill afford to do.

“It is very disappointing to have to miss what is really the second biggest race of the year but I have to look at the bigger picture and the ultimate target is Athens,” she said.