Nathan Douglas's Olympic dream in tatters

[William Douglas]

British triple jumper Nathan Douglas says he is "heartbroken" after revealing he is almost certain to miss this summer's 2012 Olympic Games.

Oxford-born Douglas got injured in his first competition of the year in Hengelo, the Netherlands, last month.

The 29-year-old former European silver medallist will miss this weekend's trials and in all likelihood will not have time to qualify for London.
"It's pretty heartbreaking to be honest," Douglas told BBC Radio Oxford.

Douglas missed most of last season after rupturing ankle ligaments in a freak training accident. He sustained the injury by putting his foot through a plyometric box, a piece of equipment used for jump training.

Douglas had been out of action for nearly 20 months and admitted he contemplated retiring, he also admits that missing his 'home' Olympics makes it that much harder to take.

"Sometimes when it gets hard you have irrational thoughts about retiring but I've always been mentally strong and I always come out fighting," he said.

"The Olympics Games is the pinnacle of any athletes career but the fact it is my own country is pretty hard to take. It will be painful to watch it."