McCorkell finishes outside top 10
Seven time British Ice Skating Champion Jenna McCorkell had to settle for 14th place at the European Championships in Estonia on Saturday.
Saturday, 23 January 2010
She went into her free programme in 11th place - from Friday's personal best performance in the short class - hoping to finish in the top 10.
In 2008 she came eighth while last year she finished ninth.
McCorkell skated against medical advice after starting her third course of antibiotics and finally succumbed to a viral relapse.
The demanding free programme proved too much for the GB skater and her energy faded towards the end.
"Jenna has had a rough time since Christmas health-wise," explained McCorkell's spokeswoman Karin McBride.
"She is now starting her third course of antibiotics and in fact skated against doctor's advice today, but that is the measure of the woman.
"She is a very conscientious athlete who does not like to let anyone down.
"Her coach Yuri Bureiko remains very positive and is convinced that with a good rest she will be fit for the Olympics in a few weeks time.
"It's disappointing, and it doesn't happen to Jenna often, but that's life."
Coleraine born McCorkell will become the first ever athlete from Northern Ireland to compete at the Winter Olympic Games in Figure Skating in Vancouver in February.
© UTV News