Gonzales backing himself to do well

Andre Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

LONDON, England:

A year has passed but the pain lingers.  Jermaine Gonzales has endured one of the most frustrating careers; up in 2001 and 2002 when he took bronze medals at the IAAF World Youth and World Junior championships, respectively, Commonwealth gold in 2006 and a national record run, to the lows of years of injury and an agonising fourth-place finish at last year's IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Daegu, South Korea.

Gonzales, now 27, enters the London Olympics with less expectations from the general public, but the same disappointment that he took with him from Daegu last year.

"It was rough for me, I mean I came this close and didn't get a medal but at the same time I did a knee surgery and was out for a long time, so I still had to give thanks for the fourth place plus I got a medal in the relays, so it didn't turn out too badly for me I guess," Gonzales told The Gleaner.

With a best of 45.18, this season has been Gonzales' most challenging in three years, but regardless of the poor form that he has been in and the injury setbacks he has endured this year, the lanky quarter-miler is backing himself to do well here.

"I think its wide open," Gonzales said. "The quarter-milers haven't been that consistent this season so you just have to stay focused on what you have to do and go out there and deliver on the day."

"It's been rough going for me this season, I've had a few hamstring problems that set me back this season but it's coming around at the right time, so I'm really looking forward to the Olympics and hoping that I will be able to do something positive here," Gonzales added.

The Bert Cameron-coached athlete's eyes lit up as he spoke to what it would mean for him to stand on the podium at an Olympic Games.

"This is the highest level, this is where everybody wants to come and end up on the medal podium. It would mean the world to me and this is what I have been working for so long, and I am just hoping and praying that with God's help I'll go out there and deliver," said Gonzales, who also likes the chances of his 4x400m relay team to follow up on last year's IAAF World Championships in Athletics bronze medal with an Olympic podium finish.

"I think we have a better chance this year than we did last year if the guys can maintain the form that they showed at the National Trials. A lot of the guys are young so they should still be energetic and ready to go and as long as you' re hungry for it, then the sky is the limit," Gonzales added.

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• TOMORROW

4:43 a.m: Swimming - Alia Atkinson in 100m breaststroke