• London Olympics 2012

Meadows prepared to risk career for shot at London

Jenny Meadows is struggling with an Achilles injury © Getty Images

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Jenny Meadows has revealed she will consider running in trainers if it boosts her chances of securing a place at London 2012.

The former world 800m bronze medallist is facing a race against time to shake off an Achilles injury, and with just 91 days to go, Meadows admits she is threatening her career by rushing her recovery.

But having seen Dame Kelly Holmes recover from injury to win double Olympic gold at Athens 2004, Meadows insists it is worth the gamble.

"I've looked at how long this injury should take to mend and I've not got that time," Meadows told the Daily Mirror. "So I'm having to push. But I tell myself that if Kelly managed it why can't I?

"Am I gambling everything? Yes I am. But I'm not going to sit back and watch the Olympic Games come and go. I'm going to give myself a chance. I've worked my whole career for these Olympics. I've got a chance of a medal. I have to give it everything."

Meadows, who has resumed training on an anti-gravity treadmill, admits she did not realise the extent of her injury - having suffered a vertical tear of her Achilles - the same injury that is hampering triathlete Alistair Brownlee's Olympic preparations.

She said: "I had been running on a torn Achilles for two months before I knew what it was - I guess you call that northern grit!

"I've spent over 20 years of my life feeling pain in training so I put up with it. The only thing I couldn't do was run in spikes. But I was in such good shape I seriously thought about entering the Aviva Grand Prix in my trainers.

"I only didn't out of respect for my opponents, but I think I would have done well. I'm not so arrogant to believe I could win the Olympics in trainers, but if wearing them was my only option I definitely would."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.