British climber Shauna Coxsey's Olympic preparations have been thrown a curveball as she underwent knee surgery, but she insists she will be ready for Tokyo 2020.
The 26 year-old secured qualification for next year's Olympics at the World Championships in Hachioji, Japan, back in August, where she clinched two bronze medals in the combined and bouldering events.
But on Tuesday she confirmed on her Instagram that a cartilage issue has set her back in her training for the Games, where climbing is set to feature for the first time.
"I am having surgery on my knee today. I’ve been struggling with knee pain for quite some time due to damaged cartilage behind my knee cap. In short it really hurts and it needs fixing," she said, before noting she did not expect it to impact her participation at Tokyo 2020.
"I’ve got an amazing team of people around me and we’re confident this won’t hold me back for long! And if you were gonna ask... yes, I will be fully fit and ready for the Olympics.
"I am doing (and will continue to do) everything I can to get to the games ready to deliver my best possible performance, this is part of that process."
Cheshire-born Coxsey is considered Britain's most successful climber, with two bouldering World Cup titles - in 2016 and 2017 - to her name. The addition of the combined event for next year's Games has meant climbers must now compete in all three disciplines - bouldering, speed and lead - which Coxsey told Telegraph Sport in August had massively altered her already "max capacity" training programme.
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