The countdown to the London 2012 Olympics has ducked under the three-year mark and, despite an injury-ridden season, Shaftesbury Barnet pole vaulter Jade Ive’s dream appearance remains firmly on track.

The 17-year-old was handpicked as a future Olympian earlier this year, when she was selected to join the UKA Heroes project sponsored by Original Source, scooping a £1,000 cash injection to aid her London bid.

Ive underlined her potential with Commonwealth Youth Games gold in India in 2008, but suffered heartache earlier in the season when her bid for glory at this summer’s European Junior Championships was ended by a back injury.

But, with Ive’s injury return ahead of schedule, the Shaftesbury Barnet AC star is more determined than ever to live the Olympic dream in three years’ time.

She said: “I’ve been struggling with this lower back injury but hopefully things are starting to look up.

“I’ll be starting training properly again in September, in time for the start of the indoor season in January, and I’m sure I’ll be fit and ready to go by then."

She added: “It was devastating to get the injury and miss out on the European Juniors this year but these things happen in athletics and hopefully I’ll come back stronger. I’m thinking about London 2012 all the time – it’s going to be fantastic. I just hope I get the opportunity to participate in it.

“People always come up to me and ask me if I’m going to be representing GB and I just hope I do because it would be such a great achievement.”

After missing out on this summer’s European Junior Championships in Serbia, Ive’s next chance of international competition will be next year’s World Junior Championships and the Commonwealth Games.

And, despite the disappointment of her 2009 summer, the 17-year-old insists the experience will make her stronger as she bids for glory at London.

“All these experiences are going to be invaluable for my progression and I’m really excited with the way things have gone.

“I’ve just changed coaches and it has been brilliant for me – he is preparing me all the time for London and hopefully I can keep working hard and get there.”

* The UKA Heroes project, sponsored by Original Source, is a successful initiative which offers financial support to talented young athletes who are working towards the 2012 and 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.