Croydon Harriers’ James Dasaolu wants to use his disqualification at the IAAF World Indoor Championships last month as motivation for the Rio Olympics.
The 28-year-old was looking good in Portland to break his personal best of 6.47 seconds over 60m but a false start in the semi-final ended his medal hopes.
After time to reflect Dasaolu has turned his frustration into motivation and now has one eye on a spot at Rio to make amends.
“It was really disappointing but that’s how athletics goes sometimes but I’m already putting it behind me,” he said.
“I’ve started 100m training now and it’s just inspired me to make up for what happened in Portland at the Olympics.”
This month, Britain’s second fastest man over 100m will travel out to Italy in preparation for the Loughborough International Athletics where he will compete in the 4x100m.
Along with Dasaolu, British sprinting is enjoying an influx of sprinting talent with runners like Adam Gemilli and Chijindu Ujah who have also ran sub-ten seconds, and the likes of Richard Kilty, Harry Akinies-Aryeetey and Sean Safo-Antwi to name a few.
All will be vying for a place on Team GB come the Olympics and Dasaolu believes the competition is tougher than ever.
“Me, Adam and CJ [Ujah] have all run below ten seconds and the others aren’t far away.
“It looks like a real golden patch for British sprinting at the moment and it’s exciting.
“It is probably the best it has ever been.”
The Rio Olympics though are fast approaching and the Croydon sprinter admits excitement is building but is solely concentrated on his training regime.
“There is a buzz at the moment with it being the Olympic year but everyone wants to make sure they get everything right.
“For me I want to be as prepared as possible and that means not looking too far ahead to the Olympics.
“I have my training camp in Italy and of course the LIA so they are my priority now.”
Image courtesy of Nuffin Long TV Athletics via YouTube, with thanks
