Mccartney tells of mystery illness

At last, they think they might have found an answer. Mccartney says they can’t be absolutely certain, but there is a good indication they have ticked the two most important boxes in this four-year battle with her body.

‘‘We think I have an autoimmune condition that particularly affects tendons. The microtrauma you get over time eventually drives my immune system into overdrive and seems to start off an inflammatory process in the area affected.

‘‘I have started medication and have already noticed improvement, even though I’m meant to give it a whole month to see how it goes. I feel really positive this is what’s going on and, if it is, I can go back to being a normal athlete and not have all these strange things happening.

‘‘It’s just a massive relief to have an answer that also has a solution.’’

‘‘The hardest part was not knowing. You start questioning yourself – if your body is capable of doing what you want it to do? When you get an answer it changes everything. People around me have noticed how much happier I’ve been in the last week because we’ve found what we think is answer and, not only that, it comes with a solution.

‘‘It could explain the injuries I’ve had the last three years which also makes me feel a lot better because I might not have so much difficulty in the future.’’

It’s important not to rush things. She doesn’t want another setback in her buildup to Tokyo which means she is unlikely to see much action over the Kiwi summer and is a highly doubtful starter for the world indoors in Nanjing from March 13-15.

Right now it’s small steps for a young woman who hopes to be soaring when it really matters in 2020.