I've been locked into a very enjoyable and productive exercise pattern over the last six weeks, swimming early morning at my local outdoor pool in Zushi. So too has Yoko Matsumoto.

We begin by exchanging nods in July, smile into August and after swiftly moving into greetings mode, begin to talk. She is trying to rebuild muscle, recuperating from a hip operation 18 months ago to repair a damaged joint. Which leads us to consider what problems young athletes of today -- especially those who have been pushing their bodies to the limit at the Olympics in Athens -- are storing up for the future.

"I was a professional ice skater," Yoko confides, "training from the age of 8."