Jess Varnish: I nearly quit over injury
Jess Varnish today revealed she feared for her career as she plots her World Championships assault.
The Halesowen Cycling Club ace is in Cali, Colombia, ahead of tomorrow's start of the Track Cycling World Championships. Varnish missed the Championships in Minsk last year with a back injury which sidelined her for five months.
She is likely to partner Becky James in the team sprint after James won the keirin and sprint in Belarus, while also claiming bronze with Victoria Williamson in the team sprint.
But Varnish admitted, after a torn disc ruined 2013, she worried she may never return.
"It got to the point where I thought my career might be finished You feel like you lose your identity," said the 23-year-old.
"I worried all the time that I would not get back to where I was. I used to get on my bike and try to put my hands on the handlebars and I thought, 'I don't want to do this, it is too painful'.
"I appreciate it more now, and to be in the team and going to the World Championships. I hadn't missed a Worlds since 2008.
"I didn't take it for granted, but I don't want to be sat at home watching it ever again.
"My form is good. I am just happy to be back in the team, whereas last year I was just stuck at home injured and depressed."
Varnish is also training for the individual sprint to challenge James for the spot after Victoria Pendleton's retirement in 2012.
"I don't ever want to go back to just doing one thing," she said. "I didn't start racing my bike to do a time trial.
"If I wanted to do that, my dad would have probably got me doing a road time trial.
"I am still trying to find the balance. It has been a really weird year because I had to get back on my bike to start with."
