Surgery won't hit bid for Paris gold - Olympian Lauren Williams

The 24-year-old from Blackwood had been set to compete at the multisport European games this week.

However, Williams suffered a serious injury in the Rome Grand Prix that has led to her having an opereation.

"Unfortunately in my first fight I ruptured my hamstring tendon quite high up, I insisted I carried on and got through as many fights as I could, with the bare minimum," said Williams.

"I knew the damage was done, I have a strangely good understanding of my body, and good intuition. I knew what I did right away.

"I was having way too much fun that day so for me it was a no-brainer, I was going to carry on until I couldn't any more.

"In my second fight I ruptured it again but further down. I felt an overwhelming burning feeling shoot down my leg.

"My knee was unstable and felt I had no control. So I resort to moving and punching.

"After scans a couple of days later, I found out I have completely snapped my semimembranosus tendon in my hamstring in two places."

Great Britain's Lauren Williams celebrates with the silver medal after the Women's 67kg Gold Medal contest at the Makuhari Messe Hall A on the third day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan. Picture date: Monday July 26, 2021..

Williams won silver at the Tokyo Olympics and is determined that the blow to her right leg won't hinder the bid for gold in France.

"I have smiled and laughed the whole way through this process and I intend on keeping this energy. I love a challenge," she said.

"I am looking forward to how much this will mature me as an athlete and give me a chance to improve even more.

"Each time I have had an injury I have always come back to the mat with a new perspective, a fresh motivation and drive to win.

"I know I will come back stronger, it's not cliche, it's speaking from experience. I will be back for Paris stronger than ever."