28 July 1999 – Sydney (Reuters) - Australian world record holder Emma George crashed onto the track in a pole vault training accident in Switzerland, throwing her preparation for the World Championships in athletics into chaos.
The 24-year-old was cleared of any lower back fractures but was severely bruised after she missed the landing bags, falling on her back from a height of about 4.5 metres (15 feet) on Monday night, Australia's AAP news agency reported on Wednesday.
Athletics Australia competition manager Brian Roe said from London that George was discharged from hospital on Tuesday night and would be restricted to swimming training for the next 10 days, leaving her little time to prepare for Seville.
He said her time on the sidelines would adversely affect her build-up to the August 20-29 World Championships as her discipline was the most technical of any track or field event.
"There are no broken bones but she's pretty shaken up, and she's got some bruising," Roe told AAP.
"Because she landed on her back the main concern was a possible fracture to her tailbone but she was able to walk out of hospital."
Roe said George - who set her world record of 4.60 metres in Sydney in February but has not performed at her peak so far in the European season - had been told she must miss at least her next two competitions, scheduled for Friday in Stockholm and August 7 in Hechtel, Belgium.
"She's going to lose 10 days' training which is critical at this moment in time. It shouldn't affect her fitness much but will affect her in other ways as it's such a technical sport."
Team doctor Chris Bradshaw said, " I will be in touch with the medical practitioners who treated her. Emma will be bringing forward her planned arrival at the team training camp in Vila Real, Portugal to around August 8 so that her return to full training can be supervised by the team medical staff."
National Head Coach Chris Wardlaw said, "We are very pleased Emma has avoided any severe injury. Pole Vaulting is a very serious sport and this is an indication of the dangers involved. I am confident that by joining the team in Portugal on the 8th of August she will have the best possible chance getting herself fit for the World Championships."
