Oxford City triple jumper Nathan Douglas wants to put his injury nightmare behind him by being a medal contender at London 2012.

The 29-year-old missed last summer’s World Championships after rupturing ankle ligaments in a freak training accident in Italy.

But Douglas, who is now back to 70 per cent fitness, believes he can recapture the form that saw him win a European silver medal in 2006.

“Competing in London 2012 has to be my absolute aim,” he said.

“Each year, you always look to get to the major championships.

“At the same time, I don’t just want to compete, I want to be challenging for medals.

“That is how I look at it. I just need to get this ankle right.”

He added: “Last year before my injury, I couldn’t wait for the Olympics and now I am recovering, I am just as positive.

“I’m pushing my team as hard as I am pushing myself.”

Douglas is back doing weights in the gym, but not yet running and jumping at full pelt.

“My strength in the gym is back to normal, which is really positive,” he said.

“The ankle doesn’t look like it is going to be ready for the indoor season, so I will skip that.

“I will look to compete outdoors in May. I need to start my season early as I have not competed since the Commonwealth Games in 2010.

“I want to get out there in May and blow away the cobwebs.

“Rehab is weird because it is one of those things where you take two steps forwards and then one back.”

Having seen other British athletes, including Oxford City clubmate Hannah England, rise to prominence in the last couple of years, Douglas is happy to be now be coming under the radar.

But he will have to hit the ground running in 2012,a with the Olympic trials taking place in June, the week before the European Championships in Helsinki.

He added: “I am probably a bit of a dark horse for the Olympics and that is fine. I don’t mind that.

“There is more pressure on other people, but I am putting so much pressure on myself to make it back again.

“I am really looking forward to it. I have been able to make major championships in the past when I am half-fit, so I can take confidence from that.”