21 Mar 2014

Gill denies he's injured

12:43 pm on 21 March 2014

Mystery surrounds the status of New Zealand shot putter Jacko Gill's supposed groin injury, with the 19-year-old taking to Twitter to deny that he's injured at all.

Gill tweeted: "Just so everyone knows I'm completely injury free. My last niggle was over 1 year ago. Even if I was injured I'd still be in Wellington!"

Gill's father Walter has said his son was carrying a niggly groin injury that was hampering his training, putting his chances of competing at the National Athletics Championships in Wellington next weekend in doubt.

His coach Kirsten Hellier also confirmed he was carrying the injury, though she knew very little about it when questioned.

However Jacko Gill denies the claims and says he's looking forward to competing against fellow New Zealander and world indoor athletics champs bronze medallist Tom Walsh at Newtown Park next Saturday.