• Kelly Sotherton's Olympic column

Disappointment only makes me more determined

Kelly Sotherton is bidding to make the 2012 Olympics at 400m © Getty Images

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• Profile: Kelly Sotherton

I should be in South Korea with the rest of the UK athletics team preparing for the World Championships in Daegu right now but sadly it wasn't to be. My first year back in full competition didn't conclude the way I had planned. I made a positive start to the season but wasn't able to build on that and my season finally ended in Belgium where I tweaked my hamstring.

At the UK Championships - which also served as trials for the World Championships - I wasn't expecting to produce a spectacular time but I finished sixth in the final and recorded a slower time than I did running sub-maximally in the heats.

Consequently, I went to Belgium to see if I could seal my place in the 4x400m relay team but three quarters of the way round the lap I pulled up because I tweaked my hamstring. It wasn't a tear but I had done something to it, and it completely scuppered my chances of getting to the worlds.

So rather than being in South Korea getting ready for the World Championships I am rehabbing my hamstring at home in Birmingham. On a positive note my back has held up this season and that is what I was really worried about. The hamstring is a setback but it is only a minor problem that can be fixed.

After returning from such a lengthy lay-off, I had to focus on certain areas of my training and I was delighted with the progress I made in some areas but unfortunately that didn't translate to fast times on the track. I suppose going from being one of the very best in the world at your event to learning to compete at another discipline, it is important to keep things in perspective.

When I consider everything, although I did not race as much as I had hoped to, I have had a relatively injury-free season, built a good foundation for next year and have the belief that I will be competing at London 2012 and if I am there, who knows what can happen? As for right now, in all honesty I wouldn't want to be part of the relay team if I am unable to run at my very best and do myself, my team-mates and the nation justice.

Although it is very disappointing to miss out on the championships, it might turn out to be a blessing in disguise. I am now able to spend a few weeks recovering before starting my winter training a few weeks early. It's been nice to be able to enjoy a bit of the summer, and do things I wouldn't normally be able to do.

I was very kindly given a couple tickets for the Arsenal v Liverpool match on Saturday. As a Gunners fan it was disappointing to see Arsenal lose - I think it was the worst I have seen them play in a long time. With Cesc Fabregas gone to Barcelona and Samir Nasri having jumped ship to Manchester City I just hope Arsene Wenger makes a few decent signings before the transfer window closes.

I've got a couple of weeks' holiday then I will be back into full training in mid-September. I know what I have to do and I will have a few weeks' head start on everybody else - I will be a few weeks into training when the others are still recovering from the worlds.

My coach Aston is very on the ball and we have already sat down and made plans - training plans are not just pencilled in, they are in pen already!

I believe some things happen for a reason and I am a realist - I wasn't quite ready to go to Daegu. Looking at the positives, a little break could be just what I need and I will be raring to go for the winter training. The disappointment of not going to South Korea is only going to motivate me more because I don't want to let this happen again - I will do everything possible to make sure I am in the team for London 2012 next year.

Kelly Sotherton is a GB Olympic medalist

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