By Stephanie Muir

AFTER enduring his fifth hip surgery, former 50-metre freestyle world-record holder Eamon Sullivan has admitted the past month has been the worst of his career.

Only days after extensive hip surgery to remove a bone spur which had resulted in torn cartilage, the 24-year-old triple Olympic medallist revealed he is facing another long road to recovery.

Sullivan, in Wagga yesterday promoting Davenport's new underwear range, has been plagued by injuries and illness over the past 12 months, with the horror run placing his Commonwealth Games campaign in jeopardy.

"I had hip surgery last week and I am not really doing a lot of training this week," he said.

"It is a long road to recovery.

"This will hopefully be the last one, I had a similar one on the other hip; I have been told it should be the last one."

With only six weeks remaining until the trials for the Commonwealth Games, Sullivan has still at least two weeks before he is able to start "hard training".

To keep his Commonwealth Games aspirations alive, Sullivan needs to qualify for the relay team from the trials to compete at the Pan Pacific Championships in August, in the hope of snaring the third individual spot on the Australian team.

"The last month, without lying, has been the toughest time of my career," he said.

"It is still two or three weeks before I can start any hard training.

"It's a frustrating process."

Despite the many draining setbacks and the physical toll the injuries have taken on his body, Sullivan has not lost the drive and motivation to achieve in the sport.

"It's the unfinished business that keeps me motivated and pulls me up," he said.

"There is still so much I want to do and achieve.

"It keeps the desire to stay in the sport and I just love competing."

The popular sportsmen made a fleeting visit yesterday, his first ever trip to city, with over 400 people descending on the Wagga Marketplace to catch a glimpse of the much-loved Olympic hero.