Olympic Games / Prospects for Gold: Gunnell gung-ho

SALLY GUNNELL was given the all-clear yesterday to resume her build-up for Barcelona, having withdrawn from Friday night's Gateshead meeting after a late injury worry.

The 400-metre hurdler pulled out of the Vauxhall Invitation after a thigh muscle tightened up during training on the morning of the event. She spent the weekend resting at her home in Brighton, was examined by a physiotherapist and passed fully fit to resume training.

'I pulled out as a precaution, really, but I only missed one 300 metres race and it hasn't affected my preparations at all,' she said.

'I'm feeling confident and over the last couple of weeks have got excited about the prospect of Barcelona.' Gunnell will join the Great Britain team in the Olympic village on Sunday after a holiday with her fiance.

Said Aouita, 32, the holder of four middle-distance world records, said yesterday that he may miss the Olympics because of an unspecified injury. Speaking in France, where he is training, Aouita said he would make a final decision within the week after consulting doctors.