Dasaolu hoping to stay injury free at Euro Championships (From Wimbledon Guardian)

Dasaolu hoping to stay injury free at Euro Championships

1:00pm Wednesday 21st July 2010

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Croydon Harrier sprinter James Dasaolu will make his senior Great Britain bow at next week’s European Championships in Barcelona – and admits he’ll just be happy to leave Spain in one piece.

Dasaolu was the surprise package in the 100m at the Aviva European Trials and UK Championships last month, finishing second behind Dwain Chambers to book his spot on the plane to Spain.

However, the 22-year-old’s Barcelona preparations have been severely hampered in recent weeks after he was hit by calf injury almost immediately after his Birmingham efforts.

And, with a hectic week planned with Dasaolu potentially doing the 4x100m relay as well as the 100m, he admitted will be pleased to leave the Catalonian capital without the need of crutches.

“I picked up a niggle in my calf just after the trials so I have been trying to build back up to be in optimum shape at the European Championships,” said Dasaolu, who is at an Aviva funded pre event preparation camp in Monte Gordo, Portugal.

“I’m just trying to get to the champs in one piece, that is my challenge, I just need to hold it together long enough to show people what I am capable of.

“To represent my country has always been a target of mine and I am happy to do that and to fulfil my goal.

“Training hasn’t been going too badly, I have suffered from a few cramps but give it a more days and I should be ready to go.”

But while anxious to acquit himself well alongside Europe’s best, Dasaolu insists he won’t be worrying about anyone but himself in Barcelona.

“I just have to be patient because it is a patience sport where everything doesn’t just come at once,” he added.

“I’m happy with what I am doing, I’m not worried about what everyone else is doing, I just want to be at the world class level and now I am here I want to stay here."

Aviva’s support, both at home and abroad, is helping the team prepare to compete at their best. Watch the Aviva GB & NI Team live in action at the Aviva London Grand Prix. For more details visit aviva.co.uk/athletics

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