Posted: November 15, 2005

Athletics: Olsson Hoping For January Return

By Bob Ramsak, Track Profile

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After sitting out the entire 2005 season with an ankle injury, Olympic triple jump champion Christian Olsson is hoping to return to action at the Norwich Union International match in Glasgow on January 28.

"I am eager to be back competing in the indoor season and to have the opportunity to defend my World title in Moscow," the 25-year-ole Swede said, referring to the World Indoor Championshipsin March. "I have targeted the Glasgow match on January 28 for my return. But I will only compete indoors if I am 100 per cent ready and should find out within the next couple of weeks whether that will be possible."

Besides the Olympic title, Olsson's stellar 2004 season included the world indoor title in Budapest, where he equalled Cuban Aliecer Urrutia's indoor world record with a 17.83 [58-6] leap. Less than a month after his triumph in Athens, Olsson shared half of the $1 million Golden League Jackpot with Tonnique Williams-Darling after winning each of the six Golden League competitions. In all, he lost just one of his 19 competitions that year.

Olsson, who underwent three surgeries to repair damage to his ankle last year, is currently training in Australia where he is nursing a throat virus. He will meet with doctors over the next two weeks to determine whether he is fit enough to compete in the indoor season. If given the green light, he said, he'll plan his return in Glasgow.

Organizers of the match are also hoping to lure a pair of other high profile Swedes: world and Olympic heptathlon champion Carolina Kluft and world high jump champion Kajsa Bergqvist.

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