Athletics: Brit aiming high

Lewis-Francis: Best yet to come

I can't see why I can't make the team. I still believe that I still got the ability to go out there and perform.

Mark Lewis-Francis
Quotes of the week

British sprinter Mark Lewis-Francis is heading into the most important season of his career 'aiming high' after putting his injury nightmare behind him.

The Birchfield Harrier saw his UK Athletics funding withdrawn last month after a disappointing year that followed surgery on an Achilles injury that saw him miss the whole of 2008.

However, the 27-year-old has secured a sponsorship deal with Global Sponsorship Group - a company that matches corporate sponsors with sports men and women - which has given him the confidence to go into winter training bullish about his prospects for 2010.

And the former Olympic relay gold medallist believes his best days are still ahead of him, with the World Indoor Championships in Doha in March, the European Championships in Barcelona in July and the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in October all on the agenda.

Talent

"For me, I've got to aim high," Lewis-Francis said. "It's a 'go for everything' situation, there's the world indoors coming up, the Commonwealth Games and the European outdoors.

"It would be nice to see myself on the team. I can't see why I can't make the team. I still believe that I still got the ability to go out there and perform. Talent never goes away. I've just got to train that little bit harder to find it.

"The plan was always to get on with the winter and come out for next season. There was never retirement on the agenda.

"I've just joined Linford Christie's training group and things have gone really well. For me to retire would be a big mistake, because I've got so much more in the legs to give.

"I've not fulfilled my dreams yet in track and field so it would be pointless to retire right now.

"The examples are Linford, Marlon Devonish, even Jason Gardener to a point. Those guys came out and performed in their later years."