Campbell battles back for Beijing

British single sculler Alan Campbell has vowed to compete in Beijing despite being on crutches after illness for three weeks last month.

Campbell required knee surgery after picking up a virus and the Coleraine man acknowledges that his build-up to the Olympic Games "hasn't been ideal".

"But we've dealt with the situation and I'm getting the best treatment," Campbell told BBC Sport.

"I will be on the start line and ready to race."

Campbell is attempting to remain positive even though he acknowledges that his leg power is "not 100%".

"My sculling technique is going well [but] there are a few little discrepancies in leg power, obviously in the right leg [where I had the surgery] but we're not letting that take away from all the work that I've done.

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"Campbell will compete for Britain in the single scull, an event that can trace its popularity further back than football"
BBC Sport's Martin Gough

"I had an infection and it got into my bloodstream and settled in my knee.

"It was serious to the point that I needed to have surgery to have the infection removed and I was on crutches for close to three weeks, post the operation."

The illness forced Campbell to miss the World Cup regatta in Poznan which came after his win in Munich and fourth place in Lucerne.

Campbell acknowledged that he had to battle to stay upbeat during the illness.

"Sometimes it's really depressing to think about some of the things that have happened [this summer] but I have to get on with it now and stay positive."

Alan Campbell and his fellow Coleraine rowers Richard Chambers and Richard Archibald will be the subject of a Season Ticket Special 'Bann to Beijing' on BBC 1 NI on 6 August at 2235 BST (BBC 2 Network later that night 0050 to 0140)

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