Champion in trouble for 2012

Pole vaulter Steve Hooker is battling to work through "technical issues" ahead of his Olympic title defence at London 2012.

Australian Hooker, who crashed out of his world championship defence in South Korea last year after failing to clear 5.5metres, may miss next month's national trials and the rest of his country's athletics series.

Hooker cleared only 5m at the Adelaide Track Classic at his first meeting since Daegu last month before being timed out as he waited for winds to die down. "I want to go out there and feel that competition energy but I felt flat," Hooker said after that event.

Athletics Australia official Eric Hollingsworth said: "He just needs some breathing space to work out these things and get through it."