Griggs missing indoor season after freak injury
Tyrone athlete Nick Griggs' conspicuous absence from the current indoor season is because of a freak knee injury that has required twice daily doses of intravenous antibiotics during a two-week hospital stay.The 20-year-old is scheduled to leave Musgrave Park Hospital on Friday. His knee trouble began when he was knocked to the ground while waiting at a congested startline before the Under-23 race at the European Cross Country Championships in Antalya on 8 December.Griggs immediately got up and went on to finish a brilliant second as he clinched a third successive individual medal at the European Cross Country tests.However after the race, the Ireland athlete began to experience pain in his knee and while he attempted to combine training with medical assessments and treatment over the next couple of weeks, he had to stop running a couple of days after Christmas and hasn't run since then."He obviously just ran on adrenaline in Antalya and ran brilliantly," Griggs' coach Mark Kirk told BBC Sport NI. "But after a series of scans and various appointments, it was eventually determined that he had essentially an infected kneecap. The medical condition is called Osteomyelitis and it can be very serious."The pain got to the extent that he couldn't drive to get a scan at one point and he was struggling walking up the stairs or even walking."
Griggs back on an exercise bike
With oral antibiotics and painkillers not improving Griggs' situation, a decision was taken just over two weeks ago that he would be admitted to Musgrave Park Hospital."Thankfully, the intravenous antibiotics have finally led to an improvement and Nick was able to sit on an exercise bike for a couple of 20 to 25-minute cycles this week, which was the first exercise he had done in six weeks," added Kirk.Griggs' outstanding form last summer when he clocked huge 3,000m and 5,000m personal bests and also bettered his 1500m time, led to him earning spots at the two premier US indoor meetings, the New Balance Games and the Millrose Games, but getting well again instead became his priority. "Nick is making good progress now but he's going to have to continue getting oral antibiotics for another four weeks so we're just going to have to see how things go."Joining our group of athletes for a training camp in the French Pyrenees in April is probably a target for him but we're just going to have to see how it pans out."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
PGA Tour star was tackled to ground by security guard at Canadian Open
Adam Hadwin was rugby tackled by a security guard at the 2023 RBC Canadian Open, moments after Nick Taylor drained a 72-foot eagle putt to win the tournament Adam Hadwin was back in the mix at this year's Canadian Open, ready to leave behind a rather embarrassing moment from 2023's tournament that still lingers in the minds of golf fans. The Moose Jaw-born star notched a commendable T11 at Oakdale Golf and Country Club that year alongside Harry Higgs, Jonathan Byrd, Harrison Endycott and Doug Ghim. But when close friend and fellow countryman Nick Taylor ended a 69-year drought in terms of a Canadian winning the tournament, Hadwin was eager to join in the celebrations. The drama reached its peak when Taylor holed an incredible 72-foot eagle putt during a play-off on the 18th, dashing Tommy Fleetwood's hopes of clinching his maiden PGA Tour title. But the action didn't stop there. As Hadwin made a beeline to congratulate Taylor, he found himself unexpectedly tackled by an overzealous security guard unaware of his identity. Footage of Hadwin being floored just after spraying the winner with bubbly took social media by storm. Taylor's caddie, Dave Markle, could be seen shouting "hey" in astonishment as he recognised Hadwin amidst the commotion. Reminiscing about the chaotic celebration, Hadwin told media: "The moment itself and what Nick accomplished was amazing. "I definitely did not want to be a part of what transpired after that, but it has been a lot of fun reading through and seeing what people had to say," reports the Mirror US. He added: "Honestly, I don't have any memory of what took place. I blacked out there for 15-20 seconds. "At the time there was so much adrenaline running through, I don't think I would feel anything. I'm glad everything worked out. We can have a good laugh about it now. Just a big misunderstanding." The golfer emerged relatively unscathed from the unusual event and, in the spirit of humour, he even turned a snapshot of himself being body-slammed into his profile picture and header on X (formerly known as Twitter). With a touch of wit, he also shared the image with his feed, writing: "Put in the Louvre." On the flip side, the security guard involved has also recounted the ordeal. Speaking to TSN last year with anonymity, he said: "I was on the other side of Nick and his caddie which meant I had to come around him. "There were a lot of people moving and I saw this person heading directly towards Nick. I saw it as if it was in slow motion, this guy coming towards Nick with a bottle and no credentials." The guard further described it as a "soft takedown" and pointed out that Hadwin's feet "never left the ground," before explaining that it was Markle who told him the error of his ways. He added: "Bryan Crawford [RBC Canadian Open tournament director] came over and it was over quickly. We got up and laughed, said sorry to each other, and it was all over."
Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- Glasgow Times
Christian Eriksen nets winner as Northern Ireland suffer defeat in Denmark
An early own goal from former Tottenham midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg put Michael O'Neill's side on top but Gustav Isaksen levelled in first-half stoppage time before Eriksen swept home the winner in the 67th minute. It was a second successive friendly defeat for Michael O'Neill's side, after March's 5-1 thrashing in Sweden, but was a much better defensive performance away to top-level opposition in their penultimate match before the World Cup qualifying campaign starts in Luxembourg in September. O'Neill made seven changes from that heavy loss in Stockholm, with Conor Bradley, Trai Hume and Daniel Ballard among those returning while Conor Hazard started in goal. The starting eleven had an average age of just 23.4. Denmark take the lead⚽ Christian Eriksen makes no mistake from close range! 🎯#BBCFootball — BBC SPORT NI (@BBCSPORTNI) June 7, 2025 The Parken Stadium produced its usual rowdy atmosphere before kick-off but was silenced six minutes in. Good Northern Ireland pressure in the corner forced Denmark's 18-year-old debutant Lucas Hogsberg into a poor ball out of defence and the bright Justin Devenny quickly intercepted. The Crystal Palace man, starting at left wing-back, cut into the box and his cross deflected off Joachim Andersen before Hojbjerg, under pressure from Shea Charles, turned the ball into his own net. Isaksen looked like Denmark's best outlet early on as the Lazio winger showed good trickery to break into the box more than once, but he was guilty of a dive while in a foot race with Northern Ireland skipper Hume, not fooling Cypriot referee Menelaos Antoniou. It's all over in Copenhagen. — Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) June 7, 2025 Denmark, who are in Scotland's World Cup qualifying group, unsurprisingly bossed possession but frustrations grew as Northern Ireland defended well, with Ballard heading away a succession of crosses. It took until the second minute of time added on for Denmark to register a shot on target but when they did, they scored. Isaksen, having moved into a central area, was found by Brentford's Mikkel Damsgaard on the edge of the box and curled a shot around Hume into the bottom corner of Hazard's net. It was Hazard's last involvement. The Plymouth goalkeeper, who had needed treatment after an earlier collision with Rasmus Hojlund, was replaced by Pierce Charles at the break. Pegged back, Northern Ireland struggled to get forward again. Bradley was having a quiet night and Dion Charles, surely low on confidence after a goalless start to life at Huddersfield, was unable to hold the ball up. Michael O'Neill named a young side (Brian Lawless/PA) Denmark were applying the pressure and Pierce Charles had to get down smartly to keep out Christian Norgaard's header. Then, from a corner, Ballard headed Andersen's header off the line before Hume made another goal-line block to deny Hogsberg. It was turning into a drab match but Denmark took the lead as they cut Northern Ireland open too easily. Isaksen's low cross was deflected by both Hume and Ballard before Eriksen, who ghosted away from Shea Charles, tucked in his 45th international goal. Mika Biereth was denied a third by an offside flag and Pierce Charles was kept busy, making an excellent double save from Mathias Kvistgaarden and Morten Hjulmand late on.
Powys County Times
2 days ago
- Powys County Times
Christian Eriksen nets winner as Northern Ireland suffer defeat in Denmark
Northern Ireland suffered a friendly defeat in Copenhagen as Christian Eriksen got the winner in a 2-1 comeback victory for Denmark. An early own goal from former Tottenham midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg put Michael O'Neill's side on top but Gustav Isaksen levelled in first-half stoppage time before Eriksen swept home the winner in the 67th minute. It was a second successive friendly defeat for Michael O'Neill's side, after March's 5-1 thrashing in Sweden, but was a much better defensive performance away to top-level opposition in their penultimate match before the World Cup qualifying campaign starts in Luxembourg in September. O'Neill made seven changes from that heavy loss in Stockholm, with Conor Bradley, Trai Hume and Daniel Ballard among those returning while Conor Hazard started in goal. The starting eleven had an average age of just 23.4. Denmark take the lead⚽ Christian Eriksen makes no mistake from close range! 🎯 #BBCFootball — BBC SPORT NI (@BBCSPORTNI) June 7, 2025 The Parken Stadium produced its usual rowdy atmosphere before kick-off but was silenced six minutes in. Good Northern Ireland pressure in the corner forced Denmark's 18-year-old debutant Lucas Hogsberg into a poor ball out of defence and the bright Justin Devenny quickly intercepted. The Crystal Palace man, starting at left wing-back, cut into the box and his cross deflected off Joachim Andersen before Hojbjerg, under pressure from Shea Charles, turned the ball into his own net. Isaksen looked like Denmark's best outlet early on as the Lazio winger showed good trickery to break into the box more than once, but he was guilty of a dive while in a foot race with Northern Ireland skipper Hume, not fooling Cypriot referee Menelaos Antoniou. It's all over in Copenhagen. — Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) June 7, 2025 Denmark, who are in Scotland's World Cup qualifying group, unsurprisingly bossed possession but frustrations grew as Northern Ireland defended well, with Ballard heading away a succession of crosses. It took until the second minute of time added on for Denmark to register a shot on target but when they did, they scored. Isaksen, having moved into a central area, was found by Brentford's Mikkel Damsgaard on the edge of the box and curled a shot around Hume into the bottom corner of Hazard's net. It was Hazard's last involvement. The Plymouth goalkeeper, who had needed treatment after an earlier collision with Rasmus Hojlund, was replaced by Pierce Charles at the break. Pegged back, Northern Ireland struggled to get forward again. Bradley was having a quiet night and Dion Charles, surely low on confidence after a goalless start to life at Huddersfield, was unable to hold the ball up. Denmark were applying the pressure and Pierce Charles had to get down smartly to keep out Christian Norgaard's header. Then, from a corner, Ballard headed Andersen's header off the line before Hume made another goal-line block to deny Hogsberg. It was turning into a drab match but Denmark took the lead as they cut Northern Ireland open too easily. Isaksen's low cross was deflected by both Hume and Ballard before Eriksen, who ghosted away from Shea Charles, tucked in his 45th international goal.
