Most people doing the decathlon these days are quite boring, so people don't relate to them.

If you work hard in real life, people tend to get in your way - either from inertia or prejudice - and they stop you achieving things. It's the worst thing about real life compared with sports, where you generally get what you deserve: if you're the fastest guy, you win; there are no other games being played.

There were only ever two black kids at my school. I never considered myself to be 'a black kid'. I was who I was. Which isn't to say things haven't happened to me that wouldn't have happened if I wasn't black.

I'm competitive - that's what defines me - and I love it.

In my heart of hearts my motivation would always have been to be the best, and I think that athletics is probably what I was built for.

I'm obsessive. I want to know the answer to how good I am. Most people aren't.

Sport fosters many things that are good; teamwork and leadership.