Operation could lift star jumper

INJURY is threatening to cut short Erica Bodman's glittering career. Guernsey's premier high jumper, who has three Island Games gold medals in the event, has been suffering with bunions in her feet for the past three years which has made jumping painful.

The 19-year-old Cambridge student was told to walk away from athletics or have an operation, which she will have in the summer.

If that is not successful, she will have no choice but to call it a day.

'It was hurting from training and competing, but when it was getting to the stage that I was hurting myself in everyday life, I felt I should do something about it,' said the 6ft-tall Bodman.

A bunion is an enlargement of bone or tissue around the joint at the base of the big toe.

It has occurred in both Bodman's feet but it is more painful in her left, which is the foot that she takes off with when she jumps.

Bodman says that it is not a common ailment in high jumpers, but it does affect a lot of women.

'Apparently 50% of women have them and they are usually caused by wearing bad shoes, but because I'm so tall I usually don't wear heels,' she said.

Bodman admitted that the problem had affected her performances over the last couple of years.

She holds the Guernsey record of 1.68m that she set in September 2003 as an under-17 competitor.

That same year she won gold at her first Island Games, which were in Guernsey, with a jump of 1.67m.

No woman has jumped higher than her in the island.

At the Island Games in Rhodes she won gold with 1.65m.

She is ranked 82nd nationally but her best would see her 42nd.

'I haven't had a personal best since my first Island Games year because I've had injuries every year. It does get me down me and I finally thought I've got to stop and get it sorted it out.'

Bodman is looking to compete in the Varsity match with Oxford in May, after which she will have the required operation.

She hopes to be back in the green of Guernsey for next year's Island Games in Aland.

Along with her gold medals in the high jump, she has also won two 4x400m relay golds.

'The Island Games is my highlight,' she said.

'I love going to them and I'm looking forward to them. I hope to be back for that.'