Back twinge couldn't stop McLellan taking her chance
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Australian athlete Sally McLellan has revealed she's been struggling with a back injury. (Getty Images: Mark Dadswell)
Olympic silver medallist Sally McLellan has revealed she was struggling to walk after injuring her back last week.
The 21-year-old finished second in the 100 metres hurdles final last night, behind American Dawn Harper.
McLellan says she injured her back at a training camp in Hong Kong, but insists it was never going to stop her competing.
"I had a bit of a niggle in my back the whole session and thought it was nothing to worry about and then I sat in the car on the way back to the university and I could barely get back in the car.
"It was never a danger of stopping me from running because I was going to run no matter what," she said.
She said she had been feeling strange before the race - with a mix of nerves and adrenaline preparing her for her chance.
"I walked out into that stadium and I've never ever been so pumped in my life," she said.
"I was just really ready to go and I just got it right on the night."
McLellan said she was quick out of the blocks and she suspected that she was a chance at a medal.
"Just being ahead of those girls at the start of the race was fantastic, it was a great feeling," she said.
And then came her opportunity - when race favourite Lolo Jones stumbled at the ninth hurdle.
"As soon as she went down, I took my chance, and I went through the gap - and here I am, a silver medallist."
