Life is often compared to a marathon, but I think it is more like being a sprinter; long stretches of hard work punctuated by brief moments in which we are given the opportunity to perform at our best.

One of the main techniques I used was focusing on the goal and visualising myself competing in the race before the race started.

You learn as much from those who have failed as from those who have succeeded.

On the £20,000 Mercedes prizes for each winner at the World Athletics Championships in Stuttgart- Anyone good enough to win already has one.

I always wanted to be a sprinter.

How could you look more stupid than to be the guy accepting a bronze medal in gold shoes?

I had already been into my professional career for six years and had not won an individual gold medal at the Olympics. There was a tremendous amount of pressure going into 1996 to get it done.