It’s been a topsy-turvy year for Lutalo Muhammad but he believes he is close to getting back to his best ahead of this weekend's World Taekwondo Grand Prix in Manchester.
The 24-year-old took bronze at London 2012 and was all set to take on the best at this year’s World Championships only to be sidelined with a knee injury.
That meant Muhammad missed the trip to Russia but he bounced back with a series of strong performances at the European Games in Baku where he took bronze at -80kg.
And he says he wants to keep improving as he builds towards a huge year that is likely to include a trip to the Olympics in Rio.
“It was a different obstacle for me this season,” he said. “As I’ve gone most of my career without any serious injuries and this has been the first time I’ve ever had to deal with anything like that.
“But the good thing is; I’m recovering well from it and I’ve got great communication with the doctors and the physios who have all done a fantastic job getting me as fit as possible.
“So I’m very happy to be in the position I’m in right now.
“Coming back at Baku was very satisfying for me. Five weeks before I was on the surgeons table and obviously I managed to come away with a European medal which made me very happy.
“But that was just a start and I’m now hoping I can continue to get better to get me back where I belong on top of the podium.”
Next up for Muhammad will be the chance to make an impact on home soil as he prepares for Manchester’s Grand Prix.
And he believes that preparation has been perfect as he looks to establish himself as a contender for gold in Rio.
“Training has been good. It’s a different balance for me at the moment, mixing the rehabilitation with my regular training,” he added.
“But we’re doing great with it so far because we have such a fantastic setup here. The doctors, trainers, physios and coaches all work together and it’s all cohesive, so I couldn’t be happier.
“I’ve been focusing on my strengths a lot in training of late, making sure that I stay sharp and conditioned to give myself the best opportunity to do well at the Manchester Grand Prix.”
Sportsbeat 2015