Australian javelin star Kim Mickle faces a desperate race against time to be fit and firing for the Rio Olympics after being booked in for major shoulder surgery.
Mickle, 30, has paid a heavy prize for the ill-considered decision to compete at last month's world championships in Beijing.
Having declared she was ready to go in the lead-up to the biennial world titles, the 2013 world championships silver medallist crashed out in the qualifying round before admitting she had been hampered by a serious injury to her throwing shoulder.
After undergoing a labral repair on Tuesday, Mickle will not be able to return to competition for nine months, giving the national record holder only a two-month window to get back on track before the Rio Games begin on August 5.
"This was not the outcome that I wanted when I chose to compete at the world titles but I take full responsibility for it," Mickle said.
"I was made very aware of the risks associated with throwing, but I honestly believed that I was capable of having a go, advancing to the final, and then being able to assess whether or not to compete in the last round on my own terms."
Mickle failed to advance from the qualifying round on her Olympic debut three years ago in London.
"London 2012 was a disappointing event for me in terms of performance, so you can be sure that I will be doing everything in my power to be ready to compete at the Olympics next year," Mickle said in a statement.
"I have thrown the qualifying standard three times already, and believe that with a few good months of competing as normal I will be back to the form that I am capable of."
Australian head coach Craig Hilliard backed Mickle to recover in time for the Rio Games.
"It's always disappointing to see an athlete endure an injury setback like this, but I have full confidence in Kim's ability to rehabilitate properly and be in good shape for the Olympic Games," Hilliard said.
"After consultation with our medical team, we know that surgery represents Kim's best option for regaining full fitness.
"We now have a clear understanding of what needs to be done to ensure her recovery."
A fully-fit Mickle would be considered a leading medal contender in Rio.
But if she is unable to recover in time, it would be a major blow to an Australian track and field squad which is targeting one to three Olympic medals.
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