The jerezana Mercedes Chilla, Spanish record holder in javelin throw (64.07 meters), has ended the season due to an aggravated shoulder injury

The athlete from Valencia Terra i Mar has suffered a tear in the supraspinatus tendon and a "partial tear" in the "biceps insertion with the humerus", Chilla said in an interview with Efe. She will be operated on by Dr. Manuel Leyes on August 17.

The national javelin record holder, 36 years old, stated that she has "very good" references for this surgeon, as well as expressing her "confidence" in the medical services of the Spanish Athletics Federation (RFEA) for the subsequent rehabilitation phase.

The estimated recovery time is six months until she can throw again, as "the shoulder needs to be stabilized and given flexibility", she said.

Chilla explained that she noticed that her shoulder was "injured" during the last European Athletics Team Championships, although she did the most damage at the recent Madrid Meeting, where she admitted she was scared because she couldn't sleep well due to "acute pain" in the injured area.

Mercedes Chilla decided to defend her title as Spanish champion in women's javelin throw in Castellón, being "aware" of the risk involved. She finished in second place with a single throw that was nearly three meters behind the mark set by Lidia Parada from Galicia, winner of the competition with 59.03 meters, and new Spanish under-23 record holder. Due to the worsening of this injury, Chilla will miss the upcoming World Championships, which will begin on August 22 in Beijing.

The next season will feature the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, which the veteran athlete hopes to attend. "If I go, it will be my last Olympics," said Chilla, who already represented Spain in Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, but couldn't compete in London 2012 due to an Achilles tendon injury. The national record holder is not concerned about the proximity of the Games when she can return to compete, but rather that her damaged shoulder "recovers well", she said.

About the new Spanish champion, Lidia Parada, Chilla emphasized that she throws with "impressive power" and also highlighted Arantza Moreno from Vizcaya (FC Barcelona), absent in Castellón and junior Spanish champion. Mercedes Chilla believes that these two athletes "will be" her successors in Spanish women's javelin throw and that the national representation in this athletic discipline "is in very good hands".