He may only be 19 years old, but there is a real self-assurance about Kyle Langford.
In fairness to the Shaftesbury Barnet athlete, he has been able to capitalise on that confidence out on the track, where he recently won the British Championships over 800m in Birmingham. In doing so, Langford became the first junior to have triumphed in that race since Olympic champion Steve Ovett back in the 1970s.
Consequently, there is now plenty of attention on the youngster as he prepares for the European Junior Championships in Sweden this weekend.
Ahead of that meeting, Sports Mole spoke with Langford to find out how he has coped with the pressure, as well as having a look towards the World Athletics Championships and next year's Rio Olympics.
You've had a look at the stadium and the track you'll be running on in Sweden - how was it?
"It was quite nice. I went for a little run and there seems to be a good atmosphere. All the teams are down there and everyone is getting pumped for it and cannot wait to get going."
There are many people that regard you to be the favourite to win the 800m this weekend - is that how you see it?
"I've not really raced too many times this season. I've tried to be careful with my races - I've only really just started my season. People in Britain know that I am capable of running quickly, but maybe in Europe I am going under the radar a little. Hopefully I can use that to my advantage. I've raced a couple of these guys before, so I'm confident about it."
Does the favourite tag put extra pressure on you?
"Knowing people back home think I should win in Sweden, that does put a bit of pressure on. But, I also put pressure on myself. I'm always telling myself that I should win - that's the same as every race. I want to win every time I race, no matter who I am up against. I try to embrace the pressure. I'm quite good at not showing how nervous I am, but I do get nervous. It's a good thing, though, because it gets me raring to go."
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A couple of weekends ago you become the first junior to win the British Championships over 800m since Steve Ovett. What is it like to be in such esteemed company?
"It's amazing. He was one of the best middle-distance runners that has ever lived. To be dubbed as perhaps being the next Steve Ovett, I'm really happy about that. It gives me a lot of confidence that people are starting to take notice of me now. People maybe saw me as being overly confident at the start of the season with my ambitions, but I'm gradually proving to them that I was right, especially by beating Michael Rimmer the other day in that tactical race. He's just gone out and won in 1:45, which has made me feel a lot better and given me confidence that I can run well this weekend."
You mentioned Michael Rimmer there and one of the features of that race was how you refused to let him pass you in the closing stages. That must have taken some guts, considering you were up against someone so experienced?
"I was really confident before the race. The way I had been training, compared to this time last year, I've taken a massive step forward. I've been racing pretty well and it's not always been about the times. As I got to the track and raced, with 300m to go I went for it. I felt strong and my turn of speed was good. Michael Rimmer tried to come out on to me, but I just tried to hold my own and it paid off."
After that race, you received praise from big names like Steve Cram and Paula Radcliffe. What does that do for your confidence?
"It's nice to hear because I used to look at other middle-distance runners receiving praise and wished that could be me. I've only really been running for the last four years - it's come so fast. Hearing all these great people speak so highly of me can only boost my confidence. It makes me want to achieve even better things."
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You're obviously giving all your attention to the European Junior Championships, but do you have one eye on qualifying for next month's World Athletics Championships in Beijing?
"I've got to get everything out the way this weekend. It's all about getting the win here first of all and bringing home the gold. I've got the Anniversary Games [in London] when I get back, which is where I should be getting the qualifying time for Beijing. I've been quite unlucky in my races with the weather and because they've been so tactical. The Beijing time will come, it feels like a matter of when and not if. The likes of David Rudisha and Nijel Amos are down to run at the Anniversary Games and running with them can only help me get the time."
You said in an interview last year that you wanted to be considered a medal contender for the Rio Olympics - is that still the aim?
"I wouldn't say I will be a medal contender, but if I can make the final, you never know what can happen. That is my aim right now. I've never not made the final in any championships I've run in, even at school level or when I've felt ill. I'd like to keep that up, even if I go to Beijing this year. One of my best aspects is that I seem to be able to get through the heats and I'm confident that I can do that in Beijing. [The World Championships in] London in 2017 is the year I will really go for it."
Why is it that you are able to make finals so consistently, even if you're not in the best form or fitness?
"A lot of people think that it's only a heat, so they take it easy. I've always gone out with the mentality of treating your heats as finals. Even if you have to run a personal best, I've done that before. You've got to make it through the rounds and if you don't do that because you've taken things too easy, it's not worth competing in the first place. If that means running a personal best, so be it."
Why have Great Britain struggled for Olympic medals in middle-distance events? Not since the early 1980s have we challenged on a regular basis.
"On the world stage, it's hard to pinpoint. My coach, he works with Paul Herbert, who run with the likes of Seb Coe and ran 1:45 at the age of 21. He would have gone on to do better things and even Coe said he would break his record, but it didn't happen. Paul has seen me run and he said the way I'm going, I'm running so well, I am better than he was at my age. You've got to put that into competition though.
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"A lot of runners do not go out with the confidence that they can beat the Kenyans. I will always be confident and give it my best, even if I'm clearly not the favourite. In the recent Birmingham Diamond League meeting, I was the lowest in the field. I got caught with 100m to go, but I was pleased with the way I ran and the belief I showed."
Mo Farah is somebody that has mixed it with the Kenyans and other athletes to win big medals, albeit over longer distances. Is he an inspiration for young British athletes like yourself?
"He is a massive inspiration. He has shown the 800m and 1,500m guys what they need to do. You need to take it to the Kenyans and show a positive mentality. It's got to be like that. If you don't, you're never going to win with a defeatist mentality."
You cannot coach that mentality, though, can you? Is it not something you're born with?
"In a way it cannot be coached, but there is a way of coaxing it out. The coach has got to know their athlete. My coach, he helped me when I was at school. I wasn't academic and was always getting into trouble, but he helped me through that stage. He's shown trust in me and that's boosted me massively. I've always been optimistic and I like to win - who doesn't? It's naturally in me, but you can train and help it along as well."
How do you assess the standard of British athletics at the moment? There seems to be a lot of talent coming through ahead of what is a big year.
"The juniors are going very well at the moment - we've got a lot of talent coming through. The juniors are even doing well in the senior events. British athletics has got a bright future ahead of it with all the young guns and hopefully I can be a part of that as well."
Liam Apicella
