SHATTERED DREAM
TARA Coleman’s hopes of a Nutri-Grain series return have been shattered with the Currumbin ironwoman effectively ruled out of the season with a hip injury.
Coleman, the daughter of former South Sydney rugby league star Craig Coleman, had hoped to make a comeback to competition for this weekend’s second round of the Ocean6 and Nutri-Grain series at Coolum.
“I am (shattered) to be honest,” an extremely disappointed Coleman told the Bulletin.
THE famous colours of South Sydney will not be seen on the beach this summer, with Tara Coleman – the daughter of Rabbitohs legend Craig Coleman – forced out of the Nutri-Grain ironwoman series with chronic hip pain.
The Currumbin ironwoman has been suffering from adductor tendinopathy for five months but had hoped to make a comeback to competition for this weekend’s second round of the Ocean6 and Nutri-Grain series at Coolum.
But her crack medical team of South Sydney sports medicine specialist Dr Grace Bryant and NSW Origin physiotherapist Liz Steet have ruled her out of competition until at least February, ruling her out of an eighth-successive professional series.
“I am (shattered) to be honest,” Coleman said.
“I was planning on doing the (Coolangatta) Gold but I obviously had to pull out of that but I thought I’d be able to be ready for Round 1 (of the NutriGrain series), and then Round 2, and now they’ve ruled me out for the series.”
Coleman initially thought she had injured her leg on her board or ski but pain continued when she was training on the craft and she headed home to Sydney to be assessed at South Sydney Sports Medicine where an MRI showed the damage.
And with Bryant and Steet urging caution, Coleman has reluctantly withdrawn from the series.
“I have to listen to them because they’re very experienced,” said Coleman, who has competitive rights for Currumbin but retains membership at Maroubra where she started her career.
“(I hope to return) at states or Aussies. Obviously I have to go back to Grace (Bryant) and Liz (Steet) and see how I’m going but hopefully I can race at Aussies.”
Coleman has proved to be one of the most persistent ironwomen on the circuit, having had to qualify for each of her seven series, proving she inherited the tenacity of her famous father.
She was looking forward to a return to Coolum where she gained the best result of her career, a third placing.
Coleman can continue her swimming training but must now stay off her craft for months to allow the tendon to recover.
“It was only Wednesday when they told me no board or ski and I’m going insane already,” she said.