Welsh cyclist Nicole Cooke has undergone keyhole surgery to cure her knee problem ahead of the Olympics. "If I want to be a serious contender for a medal at Athens this was the final chance to recover properly," Cooke told her official website.
The surgeon, ex-England full-back Jon Webb, removed an inflamed membrane.
He was happy with the operation and confirmed there was no long-term damage to the knee and that Cooke should be able to ride in a few days.
 |  My ambitions are still as strong as ever and I am very fresh mentally |
The 21-year-old Wick rider, one of Wales' best hopes for Olympic success, has yet to confirm when she will have her first race of 2004. She was happy with the operation, though, and believes that her injury woes are behind her.
"These next few weeks are very important, but I feel confident that the problem has been solved," she said.
"This is not ideal preparation for such a demanding event like the road race but I can only look forward and try to make best use of the time available to me now.
"My ambitions are still as strong as ever and I am very fresh mentally."
MMIX
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Road to Athens
The defining images