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When Eilish McColgan takes her place on the start line in Rio next month it will be a major achievement that she is able to run, let alone compete with the worlds best.The British star has endured a nightmare run of illness and injury since placing 10th in the 3,000 metres steeplechase at the 2013 World Championships -- a tale of misfortune so serious it almost led her to quit athletics for good.After switching to the 5,000m under the watchful eye of mum and 1988 silver medallist Liz, the 25-year-old McColgan is ready to defy the odds at the 2016 Games, just months after she was in too much pain even to walk.In 2014 I had some sort of viral illness, McColgan told ESPN. I had a lot of heart problems as well. I went into a condition where the heart just doesnt slow down, its like its going at 100 miles an hour. That meant for the whole of 2014, I struggled to get consistent training in.It wasnt until I took a break at the end of the season and went on holiday that the illness started to fade away. So I started to get myself into really good shape over Christmas 2014 going into 2015.The time off did wonders for McColgans health and she was finally able to return to training with the British squad at a training camp in South Africa. However, after being struck down with yet another illness, worse was to come.It was literally a couple of days after Id started running again, McColgan said. I twisted my ankle while I was out on the grass jogging. That was it. Id fractured a bone in my ankle. I couldnt believe it.My specialist said its the type of fracture hes yet to see heal naturally. Some members of the public might just leave it like that, because they dont have to return to running so many miles a week.After eight or nine months, it was obvious it wasnt healing, so I eventually had surgery. In my left foot I now have seven screws and a metal plate.Her ankle patched up, McColgan was then presented with the mental challenge of building herself back up for a tilt at Rio. But there was a problem. Her foot was not going to withstand the impact of vaulting hurdles in the steeplechase.At the start of the year I wrote down the qualifying times I needed for the steeplechase, the 5,000m and the 10,000m, and pinned them onto the wall, McColgan said.Id never done a 10km, Id only ever done one 5km, but my foot wasnt going to hold up for the steeplechase. Even though Id never done those other events, you just cant let go. I train my whole life to make the Olympic Games and something was saying to me dont be giving up.Running on her ProForm Performance treadmill, McColgan would chase those qualification times as the pain in her ankle refused to die down. As recently as February this year she was hardly able to walk, and even now she is limited to running half the miles she would typically in training.The determination eventually paid off though. Taking inspiration from her mum, McColgan ran a personal best for the 5,000m in her first track race in two years at Julys British Championships, somehow dragging her body to Rio qualification.Still coached by her mum Liz -- a silver medallist in the 10,000m at Seoul 1988 and world champion in Tokyo three years later -- McColgan is determined to emulate her achievements and reach her first Olympic final, having failed to make it out of the steeplechase heats at London 2012.Its exciting to be following in my mums footsteps, she said. Shes been through a lot. Shes not been as injured as me so early on in her career, but its nice to have someone there who has been through it.My mums coached me from the word go. Without her I wouldnt even be able to call running my hobby, let alone my job. Im still amazed by her achievements, but Im now within 10 seconds of her 5k PB [personal best].McColgan, who ran a new PB to finish seventh in the 1,500m at Londons Anniversary Games last Friday, has recently been an outspoken critic of doping controls while training in Kenya. However, there was a hint of weariness when she touched on the topic again as she insisted she was focussing on her own performances.With Russian athletes banned from the track and field competition at Rio, and their countrymen in other disciplines perhaps facing the axe despite the International Olympic Councils decision against a blanket ban, McColgan will at least be facing a cleaner field next month.But after the setbacks of the past two years, perhaps just finishing the race will be triumph enough for the Briton. While some athletes may choose to dope and take the easy way out, her story is built on hard work.Im glad I persisted because there were a lot of times where other athletes would have given up, she said. Im still here and Im still going, giving it another try.Making the team was far beyond anything I could have imagined for this year. Id love to make the final though. Its going to be exceptionally tough because the Ethiopian and Kenyan girls are close to the world record day in, day out.To be on the start line in Brazil far outweighs anything I could have imagined for this year. Its strange though, as soon as you start running well again, you forget all the setbacks youve had over the years. Its going to be difficult, but thats what Im training for every day, to make that final.Jakub Voracek Flyers Jersey . Now tied for second in the league in shootout goals, the 24-year-old likes to see what the opposing goaltender has in store before he ultimately lands on a move. 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