Clarence (Nicky) Saunders is facing a long road back if he is to be in Victoria, British Columbia this summer to defend his high jump title at the Commonwealth Games.

But like the fighter he is, Bermuda's high jump champion is not giving up without a fight. The 30-year-old is hampered by continuous knee problems that required a second trip to Australia recently for further surgery on both knees.

"I can do a lot more than I could before,'' Saunders says of his latest condition.

Before he can even afford to think about qualifying standards, Saunders' first goal will be to get back into competitive jumping.

He is training regularly with coach Gerry Swan but while he intends to participate in next week's Heritage Meet at the National Stadium, it is not likely to be in the event where he made a name for himself internationally.

"I'll probably be running the 400 metres,'' he disclosed this week.

It was back in 1990 in Auckland, New Zealand that Saunders broke the Commonwealth record with a jump of seven-feet nine-inches. During that time he was regularly ranked as one of the top jumpers in the world.

He came home that year to the `red carpet' treatment, but a lot has happened since then to the man who was one of the island's most celebrated athletes.

When he showed up at the Secondary Schools Track and Field Championships last week, announcer Philip Guishard mentioned that the Commonwealth champion was present which brought a response from the school kids which Saunders acknowledged.

Since the time that he last jumped -- almost two years ago in the Barcelona Olympics where he failed on all three jumps -- his sponsorship deals with Belco (four years) and John Barritt and Sons (two years) have ended.

"In terms of sponsorship I know some people see me as a liability because of my knees and that they can't get their full advertising mileage,'' Saunders said last summer.

And while his detractors have also surfaced since then, suggesting he should pack it in, Saunders still has no doubts about his ability to regain his spot among the world's elite even though he seems to have become a forgotten man.

The record four-time Athlete of the Year winner will also face the issue of funding when he next ventures overseas to prepare for the Commonwealth Games.

"It's very discouraging but I'm still going to do it, despite what people say,'' he promised.

When he spoke to The Royal Gazette last summer he mentioned how his dream was still the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. That remains far away, with his immediate goal being to qualify for Victoria.

"I'm attempting to, but it depends on how things go,'' said Saunders yesterday.

"I'm just training and trying to get where I was or beyond. By September I'll know if it will look like I'll retire.'' Only his knees will tell him when it is time to pack it in. The problem with them is tendonitis, or jumper's knees, which is caused by over-use.

So far four track and field athletes have qualified for the Commonwealth Games -- Brian Wellman, Terrance Armstrong, Troy Douglas and Stephen Woodley.