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Rediff.com  » Sports » Campbell up for Beijing sprint double

Campbell up for Beijing sprint double

By Nick Mulvenney
February 11, 2008 16:41 IST
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Jamaica's has no intention of relinquishing her Olympic 200 metres title at this year's Beijing Games, even if she will probably start as favourite for the more prestigious 100 metres crown.

The 25-year-old won the world title in the shorter sprint in Osaka last year and is aiming to become the first woman -- barring the now disgraced Marion Jones -- to win both in one Games since Florence Griffiths Joyner two decades ago.

"That would be something great, I know I'm expecting some really good results in Beijing," she told Reuters in an interview last week during a trip to Beijing with sponsors Adidas.

"I've been thinking about the Olympics ever since the world championships, I've been so excited about it."

In Osaka, Campbell needed a photo-finish to win 100 metres gold with the medallists separated by just one hundredth of a second.

But with coach Lance Brauman back on board and feeling as good as she ever has at the start of a season, Campbell said she thought she would be much improved in August.

"I will definitely be better at the Beijing Olympics," she said.

HORRIBLE START

"I don't tell a lot of people this because I don't want it to seem that I'm finding excuses for my performance but before the final at Osaka, I had a hamstring problem so I was unable to warm up properly.

"As a result, I was unable to get the kind of start I was able to get in the semi-finals. I think that contributed a little to having such a horrible start and having to run the field down."

Campbell was second behind defending champion Allyson Felix in the 200m in Osaka but thought she would be able to turn that around in Beijing.

"Ever since my victory in the 2004 Olympics, I haven't been running at my best in the 200 (but) I'm really looking forward to it and I'm training very hard," she said.

The return of Brauman, who spent nine months in prison last year on embezzlement, theft and mail fraud charges, has been a big boost.

"It was a bit different last year, I was used to having the coach there to push me," said Campbell, who worked with Omar Brown in Brauman's absence and married the former Commonwealth champion sprinter at the end of last year.

"Not that I'm not dedicated, but when you have someone monitoring you, then you know whether you're doing whatever it is you're supposed to do."

Twice 200 metres world champion Felix, who won silver behind Campbell in Athens and wants to run both sprints after the Beijing scheduling robbed her of a shot at doubling up in the 400m, is likely to present a stiff challenge.

"I think the Olympic gold is definitely most important, it's the biggest event for everybody in track and field and that's where I want my success," the 22-year-old American said.

"For 2008, I'm probably the strongest I've ever been."

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Nick Mulvenney
Source: REUTERS
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