Lewis rated 50/50 for Edmonton
Friday, 3 August 2001 11:25British Olympic champion Denise Lewis has been rated as only 50/50 to take the start-line for the heptathlon at the World Athletic Championships in Edmonton. Lewis is expected to make a decision on whether or not she will compete in the event sometime tomorrow morning but the British athletic team bosses are still confident that she can overcome the stomach bug that has confined her to bed at her hotel in Edmonton.
"At this point it is hard to say what will happen," said her Dutch coach Charles van Commenee. "She is ill and her chances of competing are 50-50. She will probably not be able to make a decision until Saturday morning. Denise has to feel good enough to compete and we shall see on the day, but right now she is vomiting and has a stomach ache."
"We have seen Denise come back from major physical problems in the past and still manage to get to the rostrum. I can't remember her being ill this close to a tournament before but she is an experienced athlete and this has got nothing to do with nerves, so we shall just have to wait and see."
It has been a tough year for Lewis since her stunning victory at the Sydney Olympics. The 28-year-old has not competed in a heptathlon since the Games and she has been struggling with injuries, including a long-term leg problem that means she can only high jump ever few months.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
