The Sydney Morning Herald reports
Craig Mottram didn't have to look far for inspiration when injury threatened his career.
One of Australia's most decorated distance runners has been sitting on the sidelines for almost a year, his career threatened by a serious Achilles injury. But as he prepares to make his return in the Chiba Ekiden relay in Japan next week, Mottram revealed that he drew on the perseverance of his brother, professional basketballer Neil, during a frustrating recovery.
''My brother had a serious injury when he was younger, before he played international basketball,'' Mottram told The Sun-Herald.
''He dislocated his knee. He landed and did a lot of damage to it, and had major reconstruction surgery on it over a number of years.
''He got back to playing international basketball. He's won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, he's played in Italy, he's won an [NBL] championship ring with the Melbourne Tigers.
''I don't need to look further than that to realise that it does happen, and you need to do what you have to to get through it.
''At the end of the day, if you are patient and focus on your goals, you can achieve them.''
The last international event Mottram competed in was the Beijing Olympics. By his admission, it was a disaster. The man African runners call ''Big Mazungo'' - big white man - was a big disappointment. He placed fifth in his heat and missed the finals.
Mottram has had a long time to reflect on the race. And he takes a long time to answer the following question: What have you learned from that experience?
After a long pause, the 29-year-old replies: ''I learned to bite my tongue.''
Another pause.
''It was disappointing. I don't know how to answer that question. I was disappointed with the way I ran.
''I didn't run up to my ability that I'd shown in my training and the races leading in. Tactics let me down.
''I went in with the wrong approach and I paid the price for it.''
That result ultimately led to a split with long-time coach Nic Bideau. It was not an amicable parting. Bideau reportedly claimed Mottram owed him $150,000 in a property deal, and the matter ended up in court. Mottram subsequently appointed a new coach, Chris Wardlaw. In praising his new mentor, Mottram appears to take a veiled swipe at his old one.
'''Rad' [Wardlaw] is good, he's playing a bit of a mentor role,'' Mottram says.
''Chris and I discuss a lot of the training that I'm doing. We get my ideas and his ideas and mix them all together and come out with what, I think, is the best thing for me.
''It's a good relationship and it's very different to what I was used to.''
So much for biting his tongue. This is, after all, from a runner who told a live American television audience, just moments after winning the prestigious Prefontaine Classic in 2007, that distance running was all about ''the size of your balls''. Having completed a bachelor of arts - majoring in public relations - Mottram is less prone to making ballsy predictions. However, he still has lofty goals.
''I haven't won a gold medal in a major championship yet. I've got a bronze [at the Helsinki World Champs in 2005] but I'm still to get a gold medal.
''First things first, the Commonwealth Games next year is the priority, as it is for all Australian track and field athletes.
''London 2012 is a long-term goal.''
Mottram says his injury-enforced lay-off has prolonged his career.
''When you miss a year in the middle of your career, it hopefully extends your career. That's the way I'm looking at it,'' he said.
''This will extend my career another one or two years down the track than it possibly would have been. I'm hopeful of having another five years of top-end international athletics in me.''
The Melburnian is a middle-distance specialist. He runs the 1500 metres, 5000m and the 10,000m races. However, he wants to switch to the marathon after the 2012 Games.
''The marathon, I'd like to try but later. After London,'' he says.
''I think every runner wants to run the marathon. I've never run it. But not for another three or four years.''
For now, however, the important goal is the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi next year.
Mottram will take the first steps in his recovery at the Chiba Ekiden, a relatively low-key event. The aim is to regain the respect of the great African runners who marvelled at the pace of the 1.88m white man.
''I hope so. I've been out for 10 months. I haven't been out for five years,'' he says.
''Probably when I get back, there will be a new group of African athletes.
''I've seen a little bit of track and field this year but not much. I'll take the same approach that I've always had - when you race, you take them all on, it doesn't matter where they come from. It's irrelevant, really. If you're fit and ready, you should be able to compete.''
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