ContinueLinford Christie has urged for caution surrounding British new sprint sensation Adam Gemili as the 18-year-old prepares for his first Olympic Games.
The 1992 100 metres Olympic champion, and multiple major championship medallist, is impressed with the find of the British athletics season, but adds a cautionary note for those promoting him already to ultimate success.
"Sometimes we place too much pressure on our athletes and they find it hard to live with the expectation," said Christie.
"He is still a junior so he hasn't developed a man's strength yet. Sometimes the juniors don't make it because they are used to winning all the time at junior level and when you lose a couple of races at senior level it can make you more determined, or knock your confidence. It's only the top four or five who go on to make it because they possess the drive and determination others don't.
"That said Adam's running great and all things are possible if he believes. He needs to compete in London rather than represent. If he trains like a contender and not a champion - after all, where can a champion go? - then he will continue to progress."
Linford was commissioned by Currys and PC World to create an exercise training video for store colleagues motivating them through a summer of epic sporting events and therefore strong TV, tablet and laptop sales. www.currys.co.uk / www.pcworld.co.uk
