Chambers aims for gold at World Indoor Championships
DWAIN Chambers is using his rivalry with team-mate Mark Lewis-Francis to spur him on ahead of the World Indoor Championships in Doha next month.
BACK ON FORM: Dwain Chambers is looking for gold at the World Indoor Championships
next month in Doha (Getty Images)
Chambers, who took European indoor gold in Turin last year, made an impressive start to his 2010 campaign at the Birmingham Games on Saturday, clocking 6.58 seconds en route to victory.
Second was Lewis-Francis, a further 0.08 seconds behind as he continues to take small steps back to the form that saw him anchor Great Britain to sprint relay gold at the Athens 2004 Olympics.
At 31, it was a performance from Chambers that belies his age, and he jumped to second in the world rankings, just 0.01 behind the USA's Mark Jelks, who clocked 6.57 in Dusseldorf on Wednesday.
Lewis-Francis was forced to play second fiddle to his old foe, clocking 6.66 while new kid on the block Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, the current European under-23 champion, was third in 6.67.
And Chambers, who will be looking to upgrade his 2008 world indoor silver to gold in Doha next month, insists he relishes competing against the pretenders to his throne, but has no intention of letting his crown slip.
"I've got a lot out of the day and it's good to be competing again," said Chambers, who tested positive for banned steroid THG in 2003 before serving a two-year ban.
"It's been fun to have the rivalry between myself and Mark. It has brought the buzz back for me.
"We've been running against each other for a long time.
"Doha is the next main focus for me but I can't think about that until the trials next week - I still need to qualify first.
"There's no point in putting the cart before the horse.
"The competition between me, Mark and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey was great and I haven't felt that sort of buzz for a long time.
"Having competition like that just gives you that little bit more of an incentive. Everyone's come out injury-free and we're all happy."
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why not
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I agree to an extent - but
I agree to an extent - but you can't get away from the fact that Chambers tested positive and was banned. It's a fact and, while he's served his punishment, it can't just be swept under the carpet.
You claim this isn't a measured piece, but I think the fact that it mentions the ban (only in passing, not making a dig at Chambers) ensures it is measured.
We should get behind Chambers... his performances have been superb and show real promise for the 2010 season but, through his own doing, he will always be tainted goods to a certain extent.
Why not concentrate on what Dwain is doing on the track!
I was reading this article thinking to myself that it was a measured piece, concentrating on what really matters and that is a fabulous perfomance today at Birmingham. However, the author demonstarted again how he plaininly is unable to muster up an original thought by mentioning in passing the events of 2003..... very sad!!!
Sad on a number of levels, sad that the author felt he had to drag up distant history, sad that he can't accept Dwain's performamce today, said that Dwain doesnt have the full support of a nation behind one of the finest talents that this country has to offer, particularly in mens sprinting.
My message to the author, give it a rest, give dwain a break and try and be original like supporting him.
John
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