Luke Carson's career in doubt after suffering second leg break

Commonwealth Games hopeful Luke Carson has said his gymnastics career is in some doubt after he suffered his second broken leg in two years.

Carson's hopes of competing at last year's London Olympics were wrecked after he broke his left tibia in 2011.

The Lisburn man suffered the same injury again in training on Tuesday.

"I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to do floor or vault again but there is a possibility of me doing other pieces like pommel horse," said Carson.

"Whether I can get to the Commonwealth Games for those other pieces remains to be seen.

"Certainly my enthusiasm for the sport would get me back but I'm not sure if it will be physically possible."

Medics at the hospital in Great Yarmouth where Carson is being treated have recommended surgery and the insertion of a steel rod in his leg, which would end his career.

The 23-year-old is hoping that a specialist in London can intervene with a new surgical technique which could enable him to compete in gymnastics again.

"The specialists tell me that they think I developed a stress fracture a few weeks ago and it has been a ticking timebomb ever since."

Carson said that he suffered his latest leg break while attempting a vault.

"I took off on the springboard and that's when I felt the most excruciating pain in my left tibia," he added.

"Flew through the air and landed on my back screaming in pain. The ambulance came soon after. After X-rays were taken, I am sorry to say I have shattered my tibia."

Carson's latest injury is a further blow to the gymnast after a recent cut in his funding by Sport Northern Ireland.

Last month, Carson launched a sponsorship campaign on Twitter with the aim of raising £1,000 each month to cover his funding needs.

Announcing his campaign, Carson said the cut to his funding could cost him the chance of competing in next year's Commonwealth Games.

Sport NI said that the Lisburn man "did not meet the agreed minimal performance standard" to be eligible for funding.

However, Carson insisted that he was unable to meet targets as he was recovering from his first serious leg fracture.

The Irish champion, who is based in Cambridge, required surgery after sustaining the injury in 2011.

Carson made a successful comeback, qualifying for next week's World Championships in Antwerp and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

However, Carson is definitely out of the World Championships and his entire gymnastics career now looks in doubt after his latest serious injury.

Carson said that he suffered his latest leg break while attempting a vault.

"I took off on the springboard and that's when I felt the most excruciating pain in my left tibia," he added.

"Flew through the air and landed on my back screaming in pain. The ambulance came soon after. After X-rays were taken, I am sorry to say I have shattered my tibia."

Carson's sister Bethany is an Irish international swimmer.