Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

World Championships silver medallist Maurice Smith (rear) kisses his mother, Daphne Burke-Smith, while surrounded by students from St. Mary All-Age School, at Norman Manley International Airport, on Wednesday. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

CHANGES ARE on the cards in order to achieve gold at next summer's Beijing Olympic Games. However, decathlete Maurice Smith is not ready just yet to reveal his strategies.

"There are a lot of things we are working, on but I cannot disclose that right now," he told The Gleaner on his arrival to a hero's welcome at Norman Manley International Airport on Wednesday.

"We are working on a lot of things and it's looking good so far ... eventually you will see the outcome," the Osaka World Championships silver medallist said. "We are planning on doing a lot of different things (next season), but I won't change too much because obviously what I have being doing is working."

Smith, who was met by the airport by his mother, Daphne Burke-Smith; the principal, and students of St. Mary's All-Age, his former school; fans and friends, said he was getting treatment on an elbow injury with hampered his bid for gold in Osaka.

"I am definitely planning on changing the colour of the medal for the Beijing Games. I am going to be very prepared for that because there are a lot of things I need to work on, especially my elbow," he said.

At the Osaka World Champion-ships in August, Smith scored a national record 8,644 points, beating his previous best of 8,349, to finish second behind Olympic and European champion and world record holder Roman Sebrle of the Czech Republic (8,676 points).

Calabar old boy

The Calabar old boy, who has broken the national record no less than four times in two years, described his season as "mixed".

Outside of the World Championships, Smith said: "It has been ups and downs because at beginning of the year I started out struggling, mainly because of my elbow."

His elbow affected him throughout - particularly in the throwing events and that cost him a few top-place finishes during 2007.

He also spoke of hamstring problems which hampered him during this year but said: "Now I realise that you just have to listen to your body and back off when your body say so, and just get back at it."

The highlight for him came with personal bests 10.62 (100m), 47.48 (400m) and 4.80m (pole vault).

St. Mary's All-Age, Brickhouse International Sports Management and the community will host a home coming tribute for Smith next Wednesday on the school's ground in Above Rocks, St. Catherine. There will also be a motorcade.

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