By KELSIE JOHNSON, Sports Reporter

kelsie@nasguard.com

Despite receiving a special invitation from the governing body of track and field, the IAAF, to compete in the upcoming World Championships, Olympic gold medalist and World Champion Tonique Williams-Darling decided that she will take the year off.

The decision, which sparked various rumors, was made my Williams-Darling a few months ago after an injury sustained two years back became unbearable.

The former world leader in the women's 400m spoke to The Nassau Guardian, yesterday, from her home in The Bahamas. She said: "I have a nagging injury that has been going on for the last two years, it happened in 2005 but it was bearable and I was able to compete on it. It had never been to a point where it affected my training, I was always able to work through it. But this year it has been particularly unbearable.

"As far as my training is concerned, I was training, but I hadn't opened up as yet. I decided not to compete this year because of the injury; try to use this year to heal and relax a bit. I trained up until April of this year and was trying to get ready for the season, but I couldn't. So it is really hard to watch the races on television knowing that I could have been out there competing. In a way 'yes' I miss competing and 'no' there really isn't any difference now that I am not.

"I do miss competing; this is my first time off in the summer so I can't say that I am enjoying it. To be home without training is kind of weird and something I don't want to get used to. But it is an added plus for me and something that will work out in my favor next year."

Williams-Darling is of the opinion that the break in season will help her during the long season next year. According to her, the other competitors will be at a slight disadvantage having borne the heavy load of training, competing and wanting to peak around the time of the Olympic Games. She believes that her break will give her the edge she needs and is being used as a 'healing process' for her body.

"You know, I am not too worried about the break because I took two years off in the past and I came back and ran 50 or 49 (seconds). During this two-year break I wasn't doing anything. But I don't want anyone to worry because I stopped training in April; it was continuous, but not to the level where I would have been if I was competing. So hopefully, it will all work out in my favor, I will be fresh."

When asked if she was worried about American Sanya Richards and the times she has posted this year, the Olympian simply responded by saying, "It's hard to say, because one minute you're up and the next you will have someone else to worry about.

"She is my biggest competition, no one else is even coming close, so when I see her compete it is a hard pill to swallow, but it is also a motivational move for me. All that means is I will have to go out there and work even harder so I can be ready for competition.

"But it is hard to say because it is so funny, and scary at times - when it comes to running anything can happen."

Richards is the only female athlete consistently running under the 50 seconds barrier. However, she failed to finish in the top spot at the USA Outdoor track and field championships, clocking 50.68 seconds for fourth. It was reported that Richards will not take part in the 400 m at the IAAF World Championships, leaving the door wide open for an upcoming athlete. Richards will compete in the 200 m.

Williams-Darling is expected to return to training in October of this year in preparation for the upcoming Olympic Games, set to take place in Beijing, China.