Buck to his best

Already established as a key fixture on the GB 4x400m relay squad, Richard Buck finally burst into the spotlight as an individual earlier this month at the European Indoor Championships in Paris.

The 24-year-old stormed to continental 400m bronze in the French capital to capture his first international medal in the event before returning to team duties by anchoring Team GB to 4x400m silver in a magical weekend.

A seven-time national champion indoors and out over the same number of years, Buck credits his improved form to the fresh collaboration with coaches Kevin Tyler and Steve Fudge.

"It's all thanks to Kevin and Steve, they've changed me and how I run - their attention to detail on and off the track is second to none," Buck explained.

"I joined them in September after carrying an Achilles injury for most of the summer so I forgot about Delhi (the Commonwealth Games back in October) to have a few injections to recover for the Euros."

Fortunately, the sacrifice paid off in scintillating style as Buck progressed from only second-place in the British trial and third on the national season's rankings with 46.38 to being crowed third in Europe.

"This season's been a bit of a rollercoaster ride," revealed Buck.

Fantastic

"It's been a big learning curve and we got it wrong a couple of times - before, I was worried the training load wasn't coming off me, though we were confident I'd run well by Paris.

"It was fantastic as I got exactly what I wanted - two medals.

"The 400m rankings were so close but I'm pretty good at leading the race from early on and I had to ease back on the second lap when past experience allowed me to execute the race well.

"It was a strange sensation of mixed emotions as I'd lost the silver I thought I had on the home straight but a medal is still fantastic for me - I'm absolutely delighted, it's a huge step forward and I'm very happy and proud."

With August's World Championships in Daegu the big focus of the summer, Buck is equally aware how tough both the qualifying standard and level of competition for even a berth on the British squad will be.

As the A qualifying mark is over half a second faster than his best, Buck is cautiously optimistic on his aspirations for both the global event and next summer's key goal - the 2012 London Olympics:

Brilliant

"Realistically, I'm going to have to be on my game for the trials to even make the Worlds," he explained.

"I don't imagine I will make it as an individual this year but I hope to make a big leap forward - the aim's to make the relay team and we hope to medal."

And with little under a year and half left to assert himself as an Olympic hopeful, Buck intends to further progress beyond his new-found international status.

"It's brilliant we've got the Games - I'm a Yorkshire-man who likes to stay at home so it's good," he revealed.

"I saw in Paris how the home crowd support really boosts the performances.

"I want to make the individual final so I hope to take half a second off this year and again next year - that would be amazing and as far as the relay goes, we want a medal and to cause an upset.

"2012 is all I let myself think about - it would be unfair to the fans and everyone if I didn't give it 110%."