BOSTON, Massachusetts (AFP) — Former Olympic champion Stacy Dragila won't compete in the women's pole vault at the US indoor athletics championships this weekend, her agent confirmed on Thursday.

Dragila, 36, is attempting to comeback from injuries to both Achilles tendons which sidelined her for much of two years.

Dragila had been counting on a strong indoor season to launch her 2008 campaign, in which she hopes to regain the Olympic crown she won in Sydney in 2000 but lost in Athens in 2004.

But after competing in two small meets close to her home in Idaho, the former world record-holder had a disappointing showing at the Millrose Games on February 1.

"She just feels she's not ready yet, and so she wants to be able to take her time a bit more," agent Andy Stubbs said. "There are no further injuries, just a bit of a confidence thing, and she's decided she's not ready quite yet to put it out there with the other girls.

"So she's just going to back off a little bit and prepare for outdoors and probably open up sometime in April instead."