Euro dream over as water-skiing star Janet breaks ankle

Janet, a Freeman of Lisburn, was taking part in her final practice session in England when the accident occurred.

Janet, who overcame life-threatening injuries obtained in a training accident in Florida six years ago, was on her very last training pass on August 26, when she had to abort her turn and the force of the water and speed she had built up, snapped her ankle.

She should have been travelling to the European Championships, which are to be held in Milan, Italy, today (Friday), instead Janet will face two months off her feet, before beginning months of rehab and physiotherapy.

Speaking to the Star, she commented: "It's just really bad luck. I was training in England with the team coach for the European Championships, which will be held next week. I didn't even fall over, but I was on the very last training pass and thought that I had too much weight on my back foot so I let go, but the speed I had built up and the force of the water pushed the front of the ski back toward my knee and my ankle bent badly. I knew it wasn't good when I got back into the boat and couldn't stand on my ankle. This was at 4pm and I was due to be at the airport at 6pm so I rushed to hospital to have it X-rayed, but it was so swollen they couldn't see if it was broken. They told me to go home and see a consultant the next day and when I went to the Lagan Valley they said, 'yes, it's broken'."

The local woman then spent two days in the Royal and will now need intensive physiotherapy and rehab once she is back on her feet, which is expected to be in around two months time.

"I'm so disappointed," she added. "Everything was looking good and unofficially I was breaking the slalom record; I'm just frustrated. It's just sod's law. I was on my last pass of my last practice, three buoys and I was out the gate and home."

Janet will now not be back on the water until next season, but she is already looking ahead to the World Championships next year.

"I just have to look ahead to the World Championships. Thank goodness it's a temporary thing. I've just got to be patient and get back into it."