Egelstaff admits she thought her Olympic race was lost

Posted: Thursday 31st May 2012 | 13:01

SUSAN EGELSTAFF considered losing the ability to walk a small price to pay for reaching the Olympics not so long ago, admitting she thought her London 2012 race was lost at the turn of the year.

ALL SMILES: Susan Egelstaff, right, pictured celebrating Commonwealth Games bronze in 2006

Egelstaff, 29, will make her Olympic debut at Wembley Arena this summer, having been selected as one of four Brits - and two Scots - in the Team GB badminton squad.

The world number 34 won the race for the British women's singles spot ahead of long-term rival Liz Cann, despite injuring her knee in Brazil last September and subsequently going under the surgeon's knife.

Cann was unable to capitalise on Egelstaff's absence and in the May 3 world rankings - which marked the end of the London 2012 qualification period - she was 12 places below the Scot.

And as a result, Egelstaff believes the arduous road to recovery, which included daily eight-hour rehab sessions, was worth it, even if the long-term effects on her knee could be permanent.

The 2006 Commonwealth bronze medallist said: "I said to the surgeon I don't care if I can't walk this time next year just get me through the Olympics!

"It was terrible and really stressful. A qualifying year is hard enough never mind the fact that I had a really bad knee injury.

"After my operation everyone including myself thought that was my chance gone.

"It's testament to the support I have received that I was able to get back so quickly."

While Cann was feeling the pinch as she struggled to close the gap on Egelstaff, the Scot had little time to turn her attentions to the rankings - something she feels was a help not a hindrance.

"I believe in fate and maybe it was meant to happen," she added: "For two months I didn't even think about qualifying so maybe it helped me not to think about all the stress of it.

"I had to try and get back so quickly and so I didn't have any choice to think about the injury. I had to get on with it.

"Getting to the Olympics has been my dream. I remember watching Barcelona when I was nine years old and ever since then it has been my goal.

"I wanted to say by the time of the squad announcement that there was nothing more I could have done.

"You never know what can happen so I'm not setting any specific goals. All I can do is play well and prepare the best I can."