Resolute Lalova confident of getting on the podium in Helsinki

After a career threatening injury in 2005, Lalova — the joint second fastest European 100m sprinter of all-time — is enjoying the best winter of her life and there are signs that she will be amongst the medals at Europe’s most prestigious track and field event in the Finnish capital through 27 June to 1 July.

In the Birmingham Aviva Grand Prix on Saturday, she reduced her 60m personal best to 7.14, shaving 0.02 from her previous best set in Karlsruhe four days earlier.

If winter form is any indication of what will happen later in the year, then Lalova will be in the medal hunt come the summer.

Owner of one of the most sparkling smiles on the circuit, as she came off the track the 27-year-old was emphatic about her hopes for the summer: “The European Athletics Championships is my goal,” she said, “and then the Olympics.

“Of course, you have to be in top shape to compete in both,” she explained, suggesting that that was exactly what she was planning.

“If you plan your season smart enough, you can race well all season.”

But with winter assailing Eastern Europe this year with freak snowstorms buffeting the Balkans, how did she cope?

“I haven’t been back home for three months,” she said, explaining that she has spent the winter training in the Rieti sunshine.

In the meantime she has acquired a new coach, Roberto Bonomi, as well as a boyfriend, sprinter Simone Collio.

Home was the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, but with the indoor track closed because of a lack of heating, it was not a difficult decision to stay in Italy: “It is more relaxed in Rieti, there is a new track and an indoor stadium. The support is good and it is a beautiful place.”

It is almost seven years since Lalova suffered a horrific training accident while warming up to competing in the Athens Grand Prix.

Colliding with another athlete, she broke her right femur and was unable to walk for two months. A 36-cm pin was inserted to hold the bone together and stayed there for three years.

For someone who had clocked 10.77 and 22.51 as a 20-year-old, this must have been a bitter pill to swallow. In the Athens Games, she was just outside the medals, finishing fourth in the 100m and was a creditable fifth in the 200.

The following year, she was odds-on to take a medal at the IAAF World Championships in Helsinki, before fate took a controlling hand.

But Lalova has made the long, hard road back and, seven years on, Helsinki could finally witness her welcome return to the podium.