Bushell looking on the positive side as he recovers from illness

By Paul Eddison,

MICKEY Bushell is adamant if he can win bronze at the BT Paralympic World Cup while nursing a chest infection then a medal once fully recovered at London 2012 should be a breeze.

ON THE MEND: Mickey Bushell battled a chest infection at the BT Paralympic World Cup but still won bronze

The 21-year-old travelled to Manchester for the World Cup having completed 20 races already this year thanks mainly to a winter spent Down Under in Australia.

However a chest infection, which Bushell has been battling for much of the month, hampered his bid and he finished third in the multi-classification 100m in 15.33seconds.

Fellow Brit Richard Chiassaro topped the podium with a time of 15.04 while Brazilian Fernandes Ariosvaldo Silva beat Bushell to silver by one hundredth of a second.

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But, having taken to the start line when his doctor thought he might not and then claimed a medal, Bushell is quietly confident for his chances, once fully fit, at the real thing.

“It wasn’t too bad. I have been battling a chest infection for the last two weeks, and the doctor was saying it was touch and go whether they would even let me race,” said Bushell.

“So it wasn’t too bad in that sense. I was out in Switzerland recently and the chest infection definitely had an impact on things out there.

“I raced quite well but there were a couple of events I couldn’t finish. It went well overall but it made my illness even worse for the World Cup, which is the problem I’m having now.

“The World Cup was the last big event on home soil before London though and it was good to go and race.

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“And the way I have performed recently with an illness gives me a lot of confidence about what I can do. Once I’m back healthy again I know I can go quicker.”

After a busy start to the year, Bushell’s schedule between now and the Paralympics later this summer won’t feature much more than a trip to America at the end of June.

However Bushell, who won Paralympic 100m silver at Beijing 2008, insists he wouldn’t have it any other way as he bids for further Games silverware.

“I’m off to the States in late June but other than that I’m not too sure, it will just be about London,” he added.

“I have got all my times now so I have got to prepare in the same way I do every year. You have to train hard, get strong and ramp it up this year. It’s going to be a good year hopefully.”

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The BT Paralympic World Cup took place in Manchester from 22-26 May with elite international athletes competing in Athletics, Football 7-aside and Wheelchair Basketball. Go to www.btparalympicworldcup.com for more information