Athletics: Dai Greene looks forward to Olympics 'rehearsal'

EUROPEAN 400metres hurdles champion Dai Greene believes this weekend's Diamond League meeting at Birmingham will act as a "dress rehearsal" for next year's Olympics in London.

Greene, who also won Commonwealth gold for Wales in Delhi last year, will be among the favourites in tomorrow's race at the refurbished Birmingham Alexander Stadium, as well as being one of the main home hopes for an Olympic medal in a little over a year's time.

He said: "It's going to be like a smaller version (of the Olympics] and it's the first competition this year where the fans will know who I am and I will be hoping for a big cheer from the crowd.

"This will be a mini dress rehearsal for next year and I am looking forward to it.

"The Olympics are very much on the horizon. If I have a bad season it will overlap into next season so I have to keep focused.

"The countdown seems to change very quickly from 1,000 days to 500 to 400, and it's very exciting to be a British athlete at the moment."

The Welshman will come up against world champion Bershawn Jackson this weekend, and believes getting one over on his American rival, who he has yet to beat this year, will lay down a big marker ahead of London and the World Championships in Daegu next month.

"I'm very confident," he said. "I have had some good races already this season. I won the last Diamond League race in Lausanne and beat a lot of my rivals.

"I would like to think I can put in a season's best performance at the weekend.

"The Worlds are my aim but I have ticked all the boxes so far this season. I have had wins over my rivals and I am running a lot faster than I was at this stage last year, so everything bodes well for Daegu.

"Bershawn Jackson is here and he is world class. He was world number one last year and he will be my big threat this weekend. Hopefully I can run him close to the tape and get a victory over him."

While many British athletes will already be casting a glance forward to next year's Games in the capital, Greene insists his only thoughts are currently fixed on Daegu.

"I need to finish this season well and focus on a successful Worlds. At the end of the season I can then review things with my coach and see if there is anything we need to change to get more out of myself for the Olympics.

"But I am focused on the Worlds, that's what you work for and I have visualised being on the top of the podium in Daegu.

"It would be disappointing not to get a good result this weekend but I need to peak at the end of August."