World Long Jump bronze medallist Tommi Evilä (FIN) who has battled with various injuries all year announced yesterday that a further problem sustained in the last round of the competition at Wednesday's Helsinki Grand Prix (26) has ended his 2006 season.
"I knew it immediately after the landing of my last jump in Helsinki GP, that I can forget Gothenburg (Euro Champs), but I kept hoping that I could compete in the end of the season - for example in the Sweden-match," confirmed the jumper.
"Today the magnetic pictures were taken of my thigh and the doom was that I must take it easy for next 4 - 6 weeks. In other words my summer holiday starts now - if I can say it´s a holiday."
Juhani Evilä, Tommi´s coach and father told that the recovering training will start as soon as possible.
Tommi used a full 20 step run-up for the first time in Helsinki. At his first competition he used 16 steps and then used 18 steps at three next competitions. According to Juhani Evilä this extra pair of steps would have given 20 - 25 cm more to Tommi´s results if everything had worked well otherwise.
Antti-Pekka Sonninen for the IAAF
