Hooker fighting knee injury

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http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,865 ... 18,00.html

Injuries hit medal prospects
By Jenny McAsey
May 10, 2007
TWO of Australia's best world championships medal prospects, long jumper Brownyn Thompson and pole vaulter Steve Hooker, have had their preparations disrupted by injury.

Hooker, who was ranked No.1 in the world last year for the pole vault, has also been dealing with a long-term knee tendon problem.

It first affected him late last year but did not stop him competing during the Australian season.

But he has not jumped since and has been limited to strength and conditioning training.

"We made the decision to rest it and put a blood injection in the knee to try to get it right during this preparation phase ... and it seems to have done the job," said Hooker, who won the Commonwealth Games gold medal and the World Cup last year with a best leap for 2006 of 5.96m.

While the injury has curtailed his preparation for Osaka, Hooker does not believe it is a major setback. "I'm fairly confident that I am able to jump well off limited jumping training as long as I have myself in good physical condition, so that is the main focus," he said.