Sotherton retires after back injury

British heptathlete Kelly Sotherton has been forced to retire from athletics due to a back injury, wrecking her hopes of taking part in the London Olympics.

The 35-year-old, who won a bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics, underwent an operation earlier this month to remove a piece of disc from her back.

She was told at the time by her doctor that she could be running again within six weeks but that does not give her enough time to reach the qualifying standard be-fore the British team is picked.

“I thanked (the doctor) for being so optimistic but there’s no chance,” a disappointed Sotherton told reporters.

“You have to know when to stop.”

Sotherton, who returned to the heptathlon last year after quitting it in favour of the 400 metres in 2010, was competing at a combined events meet in Italy a few weeks ago when she broke down in the 200 metres and said she knew immediately the injury was serious enough to end her dream.

“As soon as it went I knew that was it,” she said.

“I could hardly walk and could hardly move. At that moment, I said ‘It’s over’. I cried and I think it was hard for (therapist Paula Clayton) and (coach Aston Moore) to see because I was a gibbering wreck.”