Ivo Dos Santos’ Commonwealth Games campaign is over before it even started as the Sunbury resident hurt his knee at a training camp.
Dos Santos, who was to compete in judo, returned home this week.
“I was at a training camp in Spain when my knee got caught in an awkward spot,” he said on Thursday.
“I knew I had done something but I wasn’t sure what.
“I had scans a few days later and it showed I had torn my ACL [anterior cruciate ligament].”
For the 28-year-old, who will have surgery next week, it could mean the end of his career.
“It is pretty heartbreaking and I’m pretty much done. It’s the first knee injury I’ve ever had.
“Glasgow was going to be the end of my career and with having to have a year off after surgery it basically rules out Rio [Olympics in 2016].
“I’m going to turn my focus to coaching.”
Some of those he coaches are competing in Glasgow. Dos Santos was given the opportunity to stay with the team but he decided to return home.
“They were probably more shattered than I was,” he said.
“I have been pretty much in contact with them every day. Some of their events start today [Thursday].
“I will definitely watch them on television, otherwise I would go stir-crazy.”
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