Injuries Derail Watt Bid
Sydney Morning Herald
Tuesday April 29, 1997
Controversial cyclist Kathy Watt is likely to forgo a match race against arch-rival Lucy Tyler Sharman at the forthcoming world track cycling championships in Perth to concentrate on the road season.
Watt, 32, has not qualified for the 3,000m individual pursuit, the event in which she won a silver medal at the Barcelona Olympics, having failed to clock a time under 3min 40s since the Atlanta Olympics.
Watt indicated yesterday that her injured hamstring, which has kept her out of competition since the Victorian road championships at the end of August, was healing more slowly than expected.
She said she was planning to race her first competition this weekend at a low-key Melbourne club championship.
Watt's manager, Carey Hall, said: "At this stage we're leaning towards concentrating on the road for this season. It doesn't mean Kathy has given up the track, there is no way her track career is over, it is just a question of whether Kathy would be in shape for the worlds in August. The world championships for the road are in October, which gives us a longer time to get ready."
Australia still has two top qualifiers for the pursuit in Tyler Sharman and her AIS training partner, Karen Barrow, of Victoria.
However, Watt's position will mean the eagerly anticipated war on wheels between Tyler Sharman and Watt has been postponed indefinitely.
© 1997 Sydney Morning Herald