100 metre runner: Mark Lewis-Francis
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Your support makes all the difference.Is there any particular reason you've made such progress in recent months? Dedication to my training. Last year I wasn't really focusing properly, not doing as much as I should. This year I've put everything into it, and that's down to my coach, Steve Platt. Saturday's result [third in the GB Olympic 100 metres trial] was overwhelming, especially beating Jason Gardener. I couldn't have done better.
Is there any particular reason you've made such progress in recent months? Dedication to my training. Last year I wasn't really focusing properly, not doing as much as I should. This year I've put everything into it, and that's down to my coach, Steve Platt. Saturday's result [third in the GB Olympic 100 metres trial] was overwhelming, especially beating Jason Gardener. I couldn't have done better.
How do you feel about the Olympics now? That's entirely down to the selectors. If I get selected I won't be refusing. The selectors will be taking people they think can win medals. The 4 x 100m is out of the question because I haven't been training for it. I'm concentrating on the junior World Championships [in Chile in October]. I can bring home two golds, in the 100m and 4 x 100m.
Which British athlete do you most admire? Dwain Chambers, Darren Campbell. They give good advice and they're the guys I really talk to.
Who was your sporting hero as you grew up? Linford Christie, no question, I idolised him. And Carl Lewis.
Do you have any lucky rituals or superstitions before running? No, but if I see a magpie I start to panic.
You and three of the other juniors used to call yourselves the Fantastic Four and each wear a single glove when competing. What happened to that? It faded out, but Tim Benjamin [200m] is still running. Aaron Evans [400m] is injured. Nathan Palmer [110m hurdles] is looking to the Commonwealth Games.
How fast can you go? Every sprinter's dream is to run sub 10 seconds. I'm capable of that. As for a world record, who knows?
What would you do if you won £13.8m on the Lottery, as someone did last week? I'd sort my mum out first, and my family, and my coach. They could have anything they wanted.
What annoys you most? People who lunch with their mouths open.
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