Tyrone's Nick Griggs will sit out the indoor season following a two-week hospital stint for a "freak" illness. The talented youngster has been noticeably missing from results since the start of the short track season in January.
Missed by most, the 20-year-old had a minor fall during a frantic start which resulted in him landing on his knee. The multiple European junior medallist popped up quickly and caught the leading group meaning the tumble went unnoticed until after he finished, the only sign a smear of mud on his kneecap.
Griggs' coach Mark Kirk says this is the first major illness or injury related setback that the 20-year-old has experienced.
"He really hasn't had any major injury issues or health set backs since he started running," Kirk told RTÉ Sport.
"The issue also isn't a typical overuse injury, it’s a bit of a freak one. We aren't sure of the exact cause, but do think the knock to his knee at the Euro cross might have been a factor."
Nick Griggs powers home with an incredible performance to take silver medal at the Under-23 SPAR European Cross Country Championships 2024 in Turkey.
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 8, 2024
Watch live: https://t.co/8r55LhgRBk pic.twitter.com/qzUgprslWW
Griggs was able to return to running after the European Cross Country Championships but was soon sidelined with pain in his knee that left him unable to walk or drive to necessary physiotherapy appointments.
"He recovered from the minor fall at the Europeans, I didn't even realise it had even happened until after the race and we didn't think much else about it," Kirk explained.
"Nick returned to training but started to really feel his knee the week of Christmas, which isn't great timing because it can be hard to access treatment over the holidays.
"The medical team at the Sports Institute in Jordanstown had all hands on deck to get an answer to his mysterious symptoms.
"He ended up having three scans and a blood test that diagnosed an infection of the kneecap which is called osteomyelitis."
Griggs' medical team acted quickly to treat what can be a serious condition, and he was admitted to a ward in a public south Belfast hospital.
"He was on IV antibiotics for two-weeks in hospital, thankfully his knee improved quickly.
"Once he noticed it getting better, he was much happier. Nick is a very positive person generally and almost preferred being in a different environment than being stuck at home.
"He brought his Xbox and had plenty of doting visitors," laughed Kirk.
The European and World Championship competitor noticed a marked improvement in his symptoms after a few days and even managed a 20-minute spin on a static bike this week.
Griggs is now out of hospital and will continue to target the World Championships in Tokyo in September.
"He was given the nod to do some light spinning on the bike and can now go for walks which has helped.
"He will be sent home with oral antibiotics and we will aim take a cautious return to running in the coming weeks, provided he gets the all clear from his medical team."
Elsewhere, Sarah Healy broke her own 1,500m National indoor record at the 'Keely Klassic' meet in Birmingham, running 4:01.62 to finish second behind Olympic bronze medallist Georgia Hunter Bell.
This is the third time Healy has broken a national record this indoor season, having bettered her own 3,000m record twice already while racing in Boston and New York.
The 24-year-old was competing in training partner Keely Hodgkinson's new concept event, that had the Olympic Champion breaking the world indoor 800m record as the headline bill, but Hodgkinson pulled out on Thursday because of injury.
Healy took over two second off her 4:03.83 mark from February last year and is positioned nicely for which ever event she chooses at the European Indoor Championships, ranking second in both the 1,500m and 3,000m events.
Watch The European Athletics Championships from 6-9 March on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
