Dai Greene has warned his fellow competitors that he will thrive under the pressure of being the favourite to claim 400m hurdles gold at the London Olympics next year.
The 25-year-old became the first Great British athlete to win a global one-lap hurdles gold medal for 43 years when he clinched first place during the World Athletics Championships in South Korea last week.
Greene has insisted that he will be able to cope with weight of expectation now placed upon his shoulders.
"I know the pressure will increase but the way I deal with it is to put a spin on it," he told talkSPORT.
"I remember when I wasn’t making teams, I was struggling to get the qualifying standards and I was ranked 30th or 40th in the world so I remember those times and I would rather be in the situation I am now - top of the pile rather than struggling to make teams.
"It gives me a lot more confidence knowing that I’m the best in the world so I'm not going to let it affect me in a negative manner. I know people will be expecting great things for me next year but I’m in the driving seat really."
Greene also won gold at the Commonwealth Games in India last year.
Liam Apicella
