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Talbot ready to compete with Bolt
eurosport.com
03/05/2011
Last summer Danny Talbot's fledgling athletics career hit rock-bottom - but such has been his 2011 renaissance he believes he can rub shoulders with Usain Bolt this summer.
Talbot, a 200m specialist, was tipped to be on the World Junior Championship podium in Canada last July but readily admits to buckling under the pressure after bowing out in the semi-finals.
However, rather than dwelling on his Canadian heartache, Talbot has been a revelation so far this year, winning the European Indoor Trials & UK Championships back in February in 20.89seconds.
Such as his been the rapid rise in stock of the 19-year-old, Talbot is now deemed a realistic contender for one of the British spots for this summer's senior World Championships in South Korea.
But Talbot insists he needs to forget all about his indoor heroics if he's to have a chance of a potential run against triple Olympic and world champion Bolt in the Far East.
"It's unbelievable to think that I could be in the same race as Usain Bolt this summer," said Talbot.
"At the start of the season I didn't think at all that I'd have the chance to be in the same race as him and now it's something that could happen.
"If you're a Brit and you get to the World Championships there is a good chance that you should be getting to the semi-finals so hopefully if I do get there that is what I can do.
"When I came off the track at the world juniors after the 200m semi I wouldn't have thought I'd be in the position I'm in now.
"The indoor season was great but it has gone now and I need to make sure I run well outdoors because the outdoors is what people remember you by."
The Loughborough International on May 22 will be Talbot's first serious showdown of the outdoor season, crucially going head-to-head with some of his more experienced teammates and rivals for the World Championships.
And despite his early-season form Talbot admits he will have to be on top of his game to secure a spot on the plane to South Korea.
"There are some really good 200m runners around, people like Marlon Devonish and Christian Malcolm who have got a lot of experience and medals," added Talbot.
"And there is Leon Baptiste who obviously had a great year last year winning gold at the Commonwealths. On top of that there is Toby Sandeman who will be hard to beat as well so it will be tough."
Talbot ready to compete with Bolt
eurosport.com
03/05/2011
Last summer Danny Talbot's fledgling athletics career hit rock-bottom - but such has been his 2011 renaissance he believes he can rub shoulders with Usain Bolt this summer.
Talbot, a 200m specialist, was tipped to be on the World Junior Championship podium in Canada last July but readily admits to buckling under the pressure after bowing out in the semi-finals.
However, rather than dwelling on his Canadian heartache, Talbot has been a revelation so far this year, winning the European Indoor Trials & UK Championships back in February in 20.89seconds.
Such as his been the rapid rise in stock of the 19-year-old, Talbot is now deemed a realistic contender for one of the British spots for this summer's senior World Championships in South Korea.
But Talbot insists he needs to forget all about his indoor heroics if he's to have a chance of a potential run against triple Olympic and world champion Bolt in the Far East.
"It's unbelievable to think that I could be in the same race as Usain Bolt this summer," said Talbot.
"At the start of the season I didn't think at all that I'd have the chance to be in the same race as him and now it's something that could happen.
"If you're a Brit and you get to the World Championships there is a good chance that you should be getting to the semi-finals so hopefully if I do get there that is what I can do.
"When I came off the track at the world juniors after the 200m semi I wouldn't have thought I'd be in the position I'm in now.
"The indoor season was great but it has gone now and I need to make sure I run well outdoors because the outdoors is what people remember you by."
The Loughborough International on May 22 will be Talbot's first serious showdown of the outdoor season, crucially going head-to-head with some of his more experienced teammates and rivals for the World Championships.
And despite his early-season form Talbot admits he will have to be on top of his game to secure a spot on the plane to South Korea.
"There are some really good 200m runners around, people like Marlon Devonish and Christian Malcolm who have got a lot of experience and medals," added Talbot.
"And there is Leon Baptiste who obviously had a great year last year winning gold at the Commonwealths. On top of that there is Toby Sandeman who will be hard to beat as well so it will be tough."
