O’Rourke’s Olympic injury fears ease

The injury concerns over Derval O’Rourke eased yesterday when the Athletics Ireland physiotherapist team insisted they can get her back to full fitness following the back spasm that led to her shock late withdrawal from the Woodies DIY track and field championships on Sunday.

The two-time European silver medallist had won her two 100m hurdle races in Loughborough the previous day and was well into her warm-up when her back went into spasm, throwing her build-up to London 2012 into disarray.

“Things were a bit better today,” coach Sean Cahill said.

“She spent a couple hours in physio and they’re pretty sure there is a micro tear in the groin area. Having said that, she is able to do a lot more and has more movement than yesterday.

“Basically what they’ve done is they have mobilised her back and vertebrae and used acupuncture to remove the neurological pain. She can still feel it walking around but we are a lot happier now.

“The reality is we won’t know until she starts to train again — until she is pain free and tries strides on the flat and then goes over the hurdles. I’d like to think she will be back running at the weekend.

“She should have raced tomorrow night in France and obviously that’s not going to happen but if we get her back racing by the weekend after she will still have a fighting chance.”

Meanwhile the Olympic Council of Ireland requested Athletics Ireland to provide them with “full clarification” of the selection process surrounding the women’s 4x400 metres relay team for London before they decide if an appeal should be set in motion.

The request comes after Catriona Cuddihy put together what was described by one source as “a very strong case” for her appeal against the decision of the AAI’s Appeals Panel to replace her on the women’s 4x400m relay squad for the Olympics.

“The athlete’s legal counsel has been in touch,” a spokesman for the OCI said. “But without full clarification from Athletics Ireland on what exactly went on, we can’t proceed with any appeal, if only because the OCI may not even have a role to play here.

“What we need first is for them to explain the exact procedure, and method, behind the selection of the original relay team, and why this was then overturned on appeal.”