Swedish long jump star Carolina Kluft injured, worlds in doubt

Jul 7, 2009, 8:18 GMT

Stockholm - A thigh injury may stop Swedish athletics star Carolina Kluft from competing at the upcoming world championships in Berlin, news reports said on Tuesday.

The long jumper Kluft sustained the thigh injury on Monday at a meet in Karlskrona, southern Sweden, when she apparently slipped on the board on her second attempt.

Kluft's trainer Agne Bergwall told Swedish media she would likely need six weeks rehabilitation. The world championships take place August 15-23. An X-ray in a few days was due to give more details of the injury.

The 26-year-old experienced pain in the back of her thigh last week at the Golden League meet in Oslo, and withdrew from that competition after two jumps.

Kluft dominated the heptathlon event for several years, winning the 2004 Olympic gold, three world championships and two European titles.

In March 2008 she announced she would only compete in the long jump, but has not been as successful in that event.