Nick Buckfield's Olympic dream is alive again after a horrendous injury threatened to rule him out of the Games in Athens.

The Crawley AC pole vaulter had already booked his place in the Great Britian squad when he impaled himself on his pole at a meeting in Germany.

His injuries were horrific and Buckfield was forced to spend eight days in hospital undergoing intensive treatment. He was told his chances of travelling to Greece in August were slim.

But Buckfield, 31, has a burning desire to compete at the birthplace of the Olympic movement and is already back in training because he believes he has an outside chance of a medal.

Buckfield said: "It was a really nasty injury and I was told by the doctors that my Olympic dream might be over.

"My preparations were going really well then a freak injury just turned everything upside down. I had an operation and was walking around with a colostomy bag which the doctors said I might have to keep for three to six months.

"Thankfully, I have recovered a lot quicker than expected and I am looking forward to the Olympics even more than before. It has been eight years since my last Olympics in Atlanta, which is a long time, so I can't wait.

"I missed the Sydney Olympics because of operations to my right knee and left ankle so I vouched when I was lying in my hospital bed in Switzerland four years ago that I wouldn't miss this one but I nearly did."

The fact Buckfield was attempting to equal his own United Kingdom outdoor record of 5.80m when he fell awkwardly on his pole at the meeting in Cottbus shows the form he has been in this season.

He comfortably achieved the Olympic A qualifying standard of 5.65m on his 31st birthday on June 5 and had been steadily improving until his untimely setback.

After recovering from an emergency operation to repair his abdomen, Buckfield is confident he will be back to his best in time for Athens.

He said: "I was vaulting really well before the accident, the best I have probably done for a long time, so I need to get back to that kind of form as soon as possible.

"I lost a lot of weight because of the operation so I have got to get my strength back. I need to do a couple more competitions before the Olympics and I am looking forward to the rest of what is left of the season.

"My childhood dream has always been to take part in the Olympics. The whole atmosphere of being out there and representing my country is just amazing.

"Atlanta was my first taste and I went there just for the experience really, but this time I believe I can compete with the top guys a bit more seriously."