Stoneleigh-based pole vaulter Jade Ive’s season is in tatters, but she insists she will bounce back better than ever.

The 17-year-old, who won gold at last year’s Commonwealth Youth Games in India, is set to miss the rest of the season with a back injury.

She will miss the European Junior Championships and the World Youth Championships, but it refusing to be downbeat.

“It looks like I won’t be competing this season and that’s really frustrating for any athlete,” said Ive, among 15 up-and-coming athletes selected for the UK Athletics Heroes Project, supported by Original Source.

“The nature of the pole vault is that I am doing a split with my legs and the left side of my body has developed more than my right side.

“That means that my left hip is higher than my right and as a result that is causing a lot of pain in my back when I compete.

“I am now working on the other side to make it stronger and unfortunately to do that and make sure I can get back to competition I have to stop pole vaulting as I’m in agony.

“All my focus now will go on to being successful next year – I’ll be a whole year stronger and I’ll move up to bigger poles hopefully.”

Ive has recently changed coaches from Alan Williams at the Sutton Arena to Egrin Jones at Brunel University and believes the enforced lay-off could be a blessing in disguise.

Instead of competing on the big stage she will now fine-tune her technique for a prolonged assault on the podiums in 2010.

“It is hard knowing that I will some big events but I’ll work hard and in many ways I am glad that I have changed coach – there are so many things we can work on to improve,” added Ive.

“Every athlete has setbacks in their careers and I knew I would have some but I will work hard while I’m not competing to become a better athlete.

“I still have three years as an U20 anyway so there is plenty of time for me to work on my injury and still be successful and achieve what I want.”

l UKA Heroes project sponsored by Original Source is a successful initiative which offers financial support to talented young athletes who are working towards the 2012 and 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.