Veteran sprinter Marlon Devonish insists his GB relay squad can grab an Olympic medal in London.
Olympic champion looking for another gold medal at London 2012
Veteran sprinter Marlon Devonish insists his Great Britain squad can grab an Olympic medal in London despite their calamity at the World Championships in Daegu.
The 35-year-old will end his long sprinting career after London 2012, and is desperate to go out on a high in front of a home crowd.
Devonish was part of the GB 4x100m team that won a surprise gold medal at the Athens Olympics in 2004, when they proved that smooth changeovers could defy the raw pace advantage other countries may have.
It was those changeovers that cost GB in the World Championships though, with Devonish himself involved in a fluffed handover to Harry Aikines-Aryeetey for the final leg.
The Brits can count themselves unlucky as a fall from American Darvis Patton did not help matters, but Devonish is adamant they cannot have a repeat of that in London.
"It was a strange series of events, an unforeseen circumstance why I couldn't get the bat to Harry but definitely that can't happen again," said Devonish.
Medal chance
Devonish insists that Britain can get a medal inside the Olympic Stadium next summer, and if they run well the only thing up for discussion will be what colour medal will be hanging around their necks.
"In the relay we have a serious chance of a medal I think," he told
insidethegames. "You look at the stats and in the past we've got more medals than in the individual.
"We're all very positive and excited and believe we can get a medal, we can run a lot quicker than we have and if we do that it's what colour medal we will have.
"It's not going to be easy, it's the Olympic Games it's never easy. The home crowd and the public will be screaming us on."
With Usain Bolt leading Jamaica and Tyson Gay a strong USA squad, Britain are way below on individual talent, but again those crucial changeovers could be the difference.
Changeovers
"For the relay team the slowest athlete in the Jamaican team run 9.8s, and the Americans are in that ilk so their flat speed is superior to ours," Devonish added.
"But our changeovers are some of the best in the world, so if we get our changeovers right we can mix with them. It is a tall order, but we can stretch our changeovers more often than not, so it's not all doom and gloom."
Devonish will be looking to go out with a final flourish as he insists that the 2012 Olympics will be his last appearance as an athlete.
"After 2012 I'll probably call it a day - I've had a great innings in sport and I've pretty much done everything I've wanted to," he said. "This will be my last hurrah - my last sprint on the track."
