Bowles: Jemima will hit back after injury shock
JEMIMA Yeats-Brown is out of this weekend's national championships, however, initial fears that she could got be out for months and would therefore miss the Olympic Games – if selected – were unfounded.
The 16-year-old judo starlet damaged her ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) at a Great Britain training camp last week.
IN GREAT SHAPE: Jemima Yeats-Brown at the international training camp before Christmas
Jemima, from Benenden, now has her knee in a brace, but after consulting a top specialist, will not be having an operation. Instead, she will undergo intensive rehabilitation and coach Chris Bowles hopes she will be back in competition by early March. If she does return, then the Olympic Games is still a real possibility.
"The main problem is going to be getting her super fit again," Bowles said. "I had her rocking. She was spitting nails. It was the best I have ever seen her. She went to Kendal with the Olympic training squad and she was fantastic. The two girls she is in competition with for the Olympics were not getting near her."
Bowles plans to have her back in competition by early March in Bosnia. Her display there will determine whether she will be on the plane to Japan, for pre-Olympic training.
Even with Jemima out of action, Bowles has plenty of players competing at the national trials this weekend. Ashley Mackenzie, who trains in Tonbridge, will be going for the national senior title, while Amelia Cook is also fighting in Sheffield on Sunday.
Before that, tomorrow, it's the turn of the juniors. Enrico Atkinson, George Cullum and Ryan Cottom – all cadets – will all be in the under 20 championships taking on opponents some four years older than them
"Enrico has a chance – he fights like a senior," Bowles said. "But it's going to be difficult for any of them. I'd be massively pleased if any of them get a medal."
