Break For Elvery Comes at the Wrong Time

New Zealand triathlete James Elvery has suffered a setback in his attempt to qualify for the London Olympic Games with a broken hand set to stall his training in the lead up to the London World Champs Series race in August.

Elvery says it was a freak accident while training at his French base that saw him suffer a spiral fracture to his right hand, one that will hinder his preparation for the London event that acts as an Olympic qualifier for many national teams, including New Zealand.

“I was just out for my morning run; I had a short leg speed session to do and was fifteen minutes into warming up. I tripped over something small on the trail and went down really fast. I knew I'd hurt my hand, thought it was just maybe a dislocated little finger.

I got back up and finished my run without too many issues. When I got home I had a three hour ride to do, so I kitted up and headed out the door. I started one of the mountain descents and realised I couldn't find anywhere to put my hand on the bars that didn't hurt. It was swelling up pretty big so I went to our team physiotherapist Caleb Hill. Luckily his fiancée Anouska was also there, she is also a physio working in a hand clinic back home. We went for X-rays and yeah, a spiral fracture of the 5th metacarpal, cast on and no racing for a wee while.”

Normal healing of such an injury is 5 to 6 weeks but with the qualifying race looming in London on August 7th, Elvery knows he will have to push the envelope in a race to be fit.

“It’s pretty bad timing, but things could be much worse. I'm in great shape otherwise. I've just finished the best training block of my life up here at altitude, running my two biggest ever run weeks back to back with my speed sessions showing real progress.

“I had planned to race the Paris Grand Prix this weekend for my club, then the Hamburg Dextro Energy World Champs Series race next Saturday as sharpeners for our Olympic Selection race in London in four weeks. I'm now trying to come up with a plan to go forward, but racing the next two weekends is out. I'm running and wind training okay and hope to gently get back in the pool on Monday.”

Elvery knows he will have to race before London to sharpen up but is keeping a positive outlook in the race of what appears to be a serious setback.

“I may be able to get a start at a race in Geneva in two weeks which would give me a good hit out two weeks before London. I would need something going in as I haven't raced since mid June. Maybe the extra rest will do me good. If I can get back swimming soon then I shouldn't lose too much there, and I have a really good training base behind me. So hopefully it is not the end of the world!”

Meanwhile a number of New Zealanders race in events this weekend, with a largely young squad from the development group racing in a Pan American Cup race in San Francisco while Southland youngster Penny Hayes takes on a European race in Holten (Germany).

Two time Olympic medallist Bevan Docherty continues his programme towards Hamburg World Champs Series race next weekend and London in August with an appearance on the ITU World Cup circuit in Edmonton, Canada on Monday morning New Zealand time.

For race schedules and results visit www.triathlon.org