New Zealand pole vaulter Eliza McCartney has revealed her injury woes could be a by-product of a possible genetic disorder.

The 22-year-old Aucklander, who claimed bronze at the Rio 2016 Olympics, has since suffered a continual string of injuries including achilles deterioration and spent much of the recent past with her foot in a moon boot.

She battled through to win silver at the Commonwealth Games in 2018 and is ranked fourth on the all-time list with her 4.94 result in July of the same year. She has now taken to Instagram to explain to her followers the cause of all her ailments.

"We think I might have a genetic disorder that causes auto-immune inflammation, particularly affecting tendons," she posted to her 86.7k followers.

"Essentially, this means, over time, micro-trauma causes my immune system to go into overdrive and set off an inflammatory process in the affected areas.

"I've been continually challenged by this year and, at times, it's been difficult to cope, but the good news is I've started medication for this condition and I'm finally feeling my positive self again."

McCartney, who turns 23 next week, is the current New Zealand and Oceana record holder and is admits that after nearly a year she is now fighting to get fit for Tokyo 2020.

She said that the medication she is helping her feel her "positive self again," then adding: "I might not be ready to compete over the New Zealand summer, but all going well I'll be fit to qualify and build into Tokyo.

"It's going to be far from the ideal build up to an Olympics but after a year off I'm bloody ready for the challenge."