Goldie Sayers issues caution after injuries

Sayers picked up an injury at last year's UK Championships

Goldie Sayers says her struggles with injury will mean she will take nothing for granted ahead of London 2012.

The Cambridge-based 29-year-old suffered a hip injury in July last year before damaging her knee in April.

But she has returned to form, throwing her best distance of the season in Stockholm last month.

"The last 12 months has really proven to me you have to wrap yourself up in cotton wool," the two-time Olympian told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

"I've had two really freak accidents, the last one in April and that resulted in knee surgery.

"It's like life, you don't know what's around the corner, it's all very well saying I'm going to compete in 12 months, but there are going to be some athletes that don't step foot on that track and they don't know it at the moment.

"But you can't think like that and you hope that you're one of the lucky ones, preparation is the big thing."

Sayers' best ever throw of 65.75m, a British record, came at the Beijing Olympics three years ago, but it was only enough to secure a fourth place finish.

Past silver medalist Steve Backley has backed the Belgrave Harriers athlete to break into the top three in London next year.

"It's nice to hear, I think I've been advanced from a medal to a gold medal, so no pressure there," the Newmarket-born athlete joked.

"I just want to put on a medal-winning performance, whether it actually becomes a medal on the day we'll have to wait and see.

"I thought I did enough to win a medal in Beijing but was pipped to the post at the last minute."

Sayers will defend her national title, and look to secure a place at next month's World Championships in South Korea, at this weekend's UK Trials and Championships in Birmingham.