Campbell tips Scott to banish Valencia mistake in Beijing

Published on Saturday 21 June 2008 12:30

OLYMPIC gold medallist Darren Campbell insists Edinburgh's Allan Scott should use his World Indoor Championship heartbreak as a source of inspiration.

Scott, 25, the British No.2 looked on course for a 60m hurdles medal in Valencia in March but hit the fourth barrier and eventually crossed the line in sixth as Olympic champion Liu Xiang took gold.

But Campbell, who won sprint-relay gold and 200m silver in Athens four years ago, is adamant the Edinburgh-born flyer's error in Valencia will spur him on in Beijing.

"I never ran under 10 seconds in the 100m and I didn't go inside 20 seconds in the 200m but I still finished my career with Olympic gold and silver medals," said Campbell.

"What I was able to do, in the major championships, was not to make mistakes. I always produced the goods because I knew not making any mistakes was the key.

"Allan knows that he made a mistake and that's the key – when you get to these big championships, you can't have any mistakes.

"I could have come fifth or last at other events but, when it came to the big championships, I wasn't going to make the same errors.

"And that's why Allan will be disappointed in himself because he knows if he hadn't made that mistake it would have been a guaranteed medal."

Beijing will represent Scott's Olympic debut and Campbell – who wore the Team GB vest at three separate Games – admitted there is no greater source of inspiration for an athlete.

"The Olympics should be the only inspiration an athlete needs," added Campbell, who was speaking as he announced his support for the Norwich Union Community Sport Fund for the second successive year.

"For me, whenever I was training I just thought 'I'm training to be at the Olympic Games'.

"I had a plan and a dream from the age of 12 of going to the Olympic Games. I always took the European Championships, Commonwealth Games and the World Championships as stepping stones, and if you have had a setback like Allan Scott had then your focus only gets stronger."

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