Kiwi pole vaulter Eliza McCartney has suffered another injury set back.
Newshub understands the Olympic bronze medalist was forced to take a month off, after suffering another Achilles tendon strain during training.
The 23-year-old has battled a slew of injuries over the past two years, including Achilles and hamstring issues that were ultimately diagnosed as a product of an autoimmune condition affecting her tendons.
McCartney has yet to qualify for next year's Tokyo Games, after sitting out the last two domestic seasons with injuries.
Earlier this year, McCartney praised the decision to postpone the Olympics, which gave her more time to return to full fitness at a steadier pace.
"It was always going to be time-pressured and a big challenge for me to be ready to compete by July," she told Newshub.
"Although I was making really, really great progress, I think 12 months could only help me hopefully in this situation.
"It will give me a chance to really not rush through this rehab. We haven't been fully rushing, but we could have taken it slower if we had another 12 months.
"I'm going to do everything I can to rehab my body carefully and soundly, and strengthen it in a way that it's going to be more sustainable. Then, by the time we start competing again for next year, I'll be ready and won't have to force it or be held back from injury.
"It could be a really good opportunity, and I've just got to see it that way and take it as a positive."
She's now eyeing up a return to full competition in December, with the hope of reaching the automatic qualifying mark of 4.70m early next year.
