Percy admits coronavirus derailed season after early Euro exit

By Will Jennings in Munich Nick Percy admits a badly-timed bout of coronavirus threw his plans for the season into disarray after suffering an early European Championship exit in Munich. Ad The Glaswegian discus thrower was unable to progress to the final on Wednesday afternoon as his effort of 61.26m fell just short of the required qualification distance at the Olympic Stadium.

AthleticsButchart feels unlucky to miss out on medal after busy track seasonA DAY AGO Percy, 27, encountered the same fate at last month's World Championships in Oregon before claiming a fifth-place finish for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. The Scot tested positive for Covid between those two major events and believes the detrimental impact on his training hampered his hopes of a medal across the campaign.

Percy, who threw a personal best of 65.00m at the British Championships in Manchester in June, said: «It's been a struggle because it's very, a very quick turnaround and not much training to get in, but I'm feeling better. »I'm still feeling it, but you just got to handle it.

Other people have injuries and other people have had Covid as well. «My season has been incredible — I've thrown four personal bests after not throwing one for six years, and made three championships.» Matt Hudson-Smith believes he has finally banished his Commonwealth Games demons after brilliantly defending his European 400m title in the main race of the evening.

The West Midlands speedster clocked 44.53s to beat Swiss star Ricky Petrucciani as British teammate Alex Haydock-Wilson bagged a surprise bronze. Hudson-Smith, 27, won World Championship bronze in Oregon before being denied a hometown Commonwealth title in Birmingham by Zambian underdog Muzala