BASINGSTOKE sprinter Rob Tobin hopes he has finally put his injury woes behind him as he sets out to get his 2011 season off to a racing start.
It was not until this time last year that the 27-year-old got back on track after receiving treatment for a catalogue of injuries, including torn calf muscles, loose joints and Achilles tendonitis.
A fourth-place finish at the European trials saw Tobin board the plane to Barcelona in July where, despite a lack of races, he helped the British 4x400m relay team to silver.
Tobin managed to keep himself fit for the Commonwealth Games in October, where, despite failing individually, he scooped relay bronze for England in Delhi.
And with just one major outdoor championship left before the London 2012 Olympics, Tobin is keeping his fingers crossed a path to this year’s world showdown will be easy to come by.
“At the start of the year, I thought there was no way I was going to go to the Europeans and the Commonwealths,” said Tobin. “I was more or less expecting Sir Chris Hoy to turn up at the track after all the time I spent training on a bike.
“A few of the injuries I had put me on the sidelines while there were a few where I was just trying to nurse myself trough training.
“I hadn’t really put any track work in for two months before the European trials. I knew I could go, but I just didn’t know what to expect from the trials.
“And, in the end, I went to both the Europeans and Commonwealths – and to come away with a medal was really satisfying after what I went through.”
Tobin opted against an indoor season this year for the fourth consecutive time, with his last outing earning him an individual European bronze and relay gold medal in Birmingham in 2007.
His main aim is the World Championships in Daegu in late August, and Tobin believes he will be capable of building on his late 2010 performances.
“I want to be in good shape in 2011. Last year was a hard year and a difficult one to battle with at times because of the injury problems that I had to manage,” he said.
“But I still picked up two medals and, hopefully, I can remain injury free and really kick on and improve on what I have done.”
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