Jenny Meadows believes the Achilles injury that has prevented her running so far this year could actually help her chances of winning an Olympic medal in London this summer.
The 800 metres star picked up the problem in December and is not yet sure when she will be able to return to action, although she hopes she will be running again in the next few weeks.
While she has been out of her spikes, Meadows has been working hard in the gym, while the enforced absence has also made her even more hungry for success in London.
The 31-year-old told Press Association Sport: "I've still got time on my side. I think it's 110 days today until I have to step on the track in Stratford so that's bags of time.
"A month ago I was thinking why has this happened to me, and all the emotions of 'I don't deserve this, I've worked so hard, this isn't fair'. But that doesn't help and I have been able to get a lot of confidence from how much I've been able to do.
"It definitely wasn't the plan, not in an Olympic year before your home Olympics when you're expected to do well, it's a massive challenge but I'm actually thinking maybe I can come out of this injury fitter.
"I've pushed myself in a lot of different ways and I think the biggest positive is how much my mental skills have improved. I'm really hungry for it.
"And what a great cause it's for, this is for Olympic glory. There's no complaints, you've got to give it everything you've got and I'm definitely going to do that."
The injury came on the back of the crushing disappointment last September of failing to make the World Championships final in Daegu, where she had been among the favourites for gold having won the bronze in 2009. It is understandable, therefore, that she is not looking any further than making the start line for the 800m showdown in London on August 11.
Meadows said of Daegu: "At the time I felt like it was the end of the world after medalling two years previously. I just think I've picked up a lot of new skills from that disappointment, the old cliche you learn more from failure than success. First and foremost I've got to get to the final (in London). I've learned that from Daegu."