Sprinter James Ellington to race for first time since nearly dying in horrific motorbike accident

BRITISH sprinter James Ellington is set to race for first time since nearly dying in an horrific motorbike accident in January 2017.

The athletics star, 33, was told he may never walk again after he was involved a sickening crash on his way back from a day visiting a volcano in Tenerife.

It was a cruel twist of fate for Ellington, a late bloomer, who was in the form of his life before “all hell broke loose”.

Looking back at the accident, Ellington recalled: “I was in phenomenal form. I was going to get on the elite, elite stage. Really make a name for myself.

“My right leg was just, kind of… splattered on the floor. Blood everywhere. I said: ‘My leg’s gone’ because I couldn’t see nothing but blood and bones hanging out.

“My tracksuit bottoms and my shoes completely disappeared. It was like I’d been in a bomb explosion. Everything was just ripped off.”

But now, two-and-a-half years later, Ellington is not only defying doctors’ beliefs by walking, he is preparing to take to the track once more in the Anniversary Games on Saturday night.

Not only that, Ellington has his eye on the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, telling The Telegraph: “I 100 per cent think I can make it to Tokyo [2020 Olympics].

[It will be a] walk in the park compared to what I’ve had to come back from.

James Ellington on his return to the track

“It might sound crazy, but in my head that’s a walk in the park compared to what I’ve had to come back from.

“I’ll come out next year and I’ll be an animal, that’s what I believe.”

Prior to his accident, Ellington had clocked personal bests in both the 100m (10.04secs) and 200m (20.31secs).

After the motorbike smash, he was told even walking, let alone sprinting, would be a challenge.

But Ellington revealed doctors’ doubts fuelled him, saying: “Other people’s doubt is a big motivation.

“That’s definitely something that turns me on when it comes to achieving stuff. A lot of my great achievements have been in the face of adversity.

2020 VISION

“If you look at 2012, that was the year I put myself on eBay [seeking a sponsor] because I was working and couldn’t train full-time.

“I said if I got a sponsor I would go to the Olympics and I made that happen.

“In 2015 I didn’t have a great ­season and they tried to cut my funding, so I was angry to prove a point and I made the Olympic team. There’s a correlation there.

“I always said from day one, ‘As long as I’ve got my legs I’ll be able to run’.

“I can’t really explain how or why I knew, but inside me I always believed it. It’s not deluded X Factor belief, where you can’t sing, but you think you can.

“If I was done I would have known. But I knew I wasn’t.”

And now, Ellington will be on the track once more – taking on some of the world’s best at 2.35pm at the London Stadium.

The self-professed “calm” character did admit he will be feeling the emotions come race-time, as he ventures into the unknown.

Ellington said: “It’s the first time ever in my life where I don’t know what sort of shape I’m in. The main thing is this is a ­massive milestone in my return to the track.

“Everyone always says I’m like a rock, but I do have emotions that I don’t show.

“It’s definitely going to be emotional being on the start line again. You never know, I might be overwhelmed and start crying or something.”