By John Haughey BBC Sport

Paul McKee's 2003 turned sour after his world indoor medal win

2003 was the best and worst of times for Paul McKee.

A surprise World Indoor bronze medal in March should have been the springboard to McKee getting closer to the 45-second barrier outdoors.

But in late May, while he was in Barcelona preparing for his first outdoor race of the season, a hamstring problem reared up which was to wreck his summer.

"It just went downhill straight away. I ran 45.95 in first my race and things just got gradually worse as the summer went on."

By the time he reached the World Championships in Paris, McKee was a tired and frustrated athlete.

Afterwards, he acknowledged that he probably shouldn't even have travelled to the French capital but "then again you always feel that in the white heat of competition, things might turn around".

After Paris, he knew that he finally had to shake off the hamstring problem or his Athens dream would turn into a nightmare.

Less than four months before the start of the Olympic Games 400m first round, McKee is still battling to overcome the injury.

If another serious injury was to crop up at this stage, it would devastate me Paul McKee

While there was no period over the winter and spring that he wasn't able to train, his track work was inhibited by the hamstring problem.

His lack of speed in an abortive indoor campaign indicated that something needed to be done and after taking advice from Kelly Holmes, he took the decision to have an epidural injection in his lower spine in an effort to cure the ailment.

"I went over to England, got the injection and took about 10 days off.

"In my first session back, my coach already said I was looking a lot better.

"I was getting a couple of extra inches in each stride because I had been carrying the hamstring for nine months."

UK Athletics sports doctor Brian English advised the Belfastman that it might take three injections to get rid of the problem and McKee had another jab earlier this month.

Up to now, it's a case of so far so good although McKee acknowledges that he can still feel twinges of pain - particularly when he sits down for periods.

In truth, he won't know the success of the treatment until he starts running flat out 300s and 400s in training in the coming weeks.

Unlike McKee, Paul Brizzell has already qualified for Athens

The signs are encouraging as McKee has been pleased with his gym work in recent weeks - which is usually a positive sign for the athlete.

However, McKee acknowledges that another injury setback could scupper his chances of getting the qualifying standard which would earn his ticket to the Greek capital.

"I can't afford any more setbacks. If another serious injury was to crop up at this stage, it would devastate me.

"If the same hamstring started to get bad again, I would get a third injection which would be keep me going for a while but it would not really be a solution".

Given his injury problems, McKee can't yet specifically focus on Athens in the way that the already-qualified Paul Brizzel can.

However, he competed in Sydney in the relay and acknowledges that he has felt "excitement" as he ponders what August could bring.

"The Olympics are special. I've been to three World Championships but the Olympics is a far bigger event even though it's the same standard of competiton."

To get to Athens, McKee needs to better his Irish record of 45.58 by .03.

The Olympic Council of Ireland are giving Irish track and field athletes until 3 July - more than a ahead before the international deadline - for hopefuls to achieve A Athens qualifying marks.

McKee's plan is for his season to begin in Hungary on the final weekend in May when he may run 400s on successive days.

Hopefully I can get the standard within three or four races Paul McKee

"The first thing is to go out and break 46 seconds and then aim to break my Irish record which would get my the Olympic A standard.

"I want to qualify but I also want to be fresh, when I hopefully get to Athens. If I did three months of 400m, I think performances might tail off a bit.

"Hopefully I can get the standard within three or four races and then start to pick and choose my races and maybe even take a few weeks off before Athens."

While he would have loved to have a few more weeks to achieve the Athens standard, McKee acknowledges that the Olympic Council of Ireland appear to have their act together as regards pre-Games planning.

Along with the Northern Ireland Sports Council, they have even agreed to pick up the bill for his sessions with a sleep specialist as McKee has been afflicted by insomnia for several years.

"The facilites at our training camp in Cyprus are also good.

"We have a really good hotel and we were there for a week in October and were able to make recommendations about how to improve the facilties even more.

"I have the option to go to Cyprus three weeks before the Games but it will be really hot so I doubt that I will go for that long.

"But it will cut the travelling out. Cyprus is only an hour from Athens. The Council deserve credit for putting a lot of money into the games."