Athletics Videos
Iwan Thomas talks Rhys Williams and Dai Greene.
Posted on: 22 March 2011 - 11:22 Filed under: Athletics
OLYMPIC silver medallist Iwan Thomas is expecting the Welsh dragon to roar at this summer’s World Championships – and believes the 400m hurdles will be cause for a double celebration.
Last season saw Dai Greene’s stock rise to genuine world title contender after he romped to both European and Commonwealth gold in Barcelona and Delhi respectively.
In Barcelona, fellow Welshman Rhys Williams followed him home to European silver while at the Commonwealth Games the son of rugby legend JJ Williams bagged bronze.
Since Thomas and double world champion Colin Jackson hung up their spikes, Wales has had little to shout about on the track – but come this summer in South Korea, Thomas believes all that will change.
“Wales is a very proud nation and if Dai and Rhys were to get a one-two in the Worlds this year, the country would just go crazy for them,” said Thomas.
"If those two guys can stay healthy, they are definitely going to contest for medals for Britain over the next few years.
“Over the last few years Dai has become a first class athlete while it has been brilliant to see Rhys come back after some many serious injuries and he can push him all the way.”
Thomas was speaking at the European Indoor Championships where he was delivering a masterclass to Spar Sprint Stars who were treated to a VIP weekend in Paris.
And the 1997 world 4x400m relay gold medallist is tipping the budding stars of tomorrow to follow in the footsteps of their Parisian heroes.
“To come to the European Indoors is the biggest motivation any athlete could have to train hard through the winter,” added Thomas.
“They are serious athletes who want to get to that next level, so to come to Paris and see people perform who they might aspire to be like, or even want to beat, that is priceless."
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