Wightman has 'fire inside' for LA 2028 after Paris blow

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Venue: King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels Dates: 13-14 September

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Jake Wightman "could easy person been crushed" by nan wounded that ruled him retired of nan Olympic Games successful Paris but says nan "fire inside" is keeping him motivated arsenic he targets Los Angeles 2028.

Since winning nan world 1500m title 2 years ago, nan 30-year-old Nottingham-born Scot's profession has been blighted by fittingness problems.

And, conscionable a fewer days earlier he was owed to compete successful nan 800m successful Paris, he picked up a hamstring tear during "one of nan champion sessions I person ever done" astatine a pre-games endurance campy successful St Moritz.

"I was virtually a mates of days from going into nan village," Wightman, who had already tried connected his opening ceremonial uniform, told BBC Scotland.

Wightman had hoped that 2024 was nan twelvemonth wherever "everything was going to travel backmost information together and it was going to beryllium my champion season" aft putting his wounded struggles down him.

"So it is simply a horrible measurement to extremity an Olympic acquisition - I didn't get to go," he said. "For me, it is now a determination of what I do.

"I could easy person been crushed by it and not wanted to transportation on. But that can't beryllium really I time off my acquisition pinch nan Olympic Games.

"I americium hoping to effort to push connected for 1 much rhythm now, which I consciousness motivated to spell and do alternatively than beryllium disappointed and downbeat. I request to support that occurrence inside, which I americium gladsome is still there."

A ft problem prevented Wightman from defending his world title successful 2023 and he past missed nan British Olympic tests successful June because of a calf injury.

However, he received a discretionary prime by Team GB selectors for nan 800m earlier his hopes for Paris were dashed.

"I deliberation astir apt nan cruellest spot was I thought I had my spot of bad luck and wobble of nan summertime erstwhile I didn't do nan trials," Wightman said.

"I don’t deliberation I could woody pinch excessively galore much large blows for illustration I have, truthful I americium hoping I tin person perchance 4 years of unbroken training and racing, which is what I desperately need."

Wightman is successful nan athletics to pursuit championships and medals.

"I still judge I tin do that and I judge I could person done that these past fewer years, but I conscionable haven’t been fixed nan chance to show it, truthful that is nan cruellest bit," he added.

"So it is astir making judge I beryllium I tin still do it and beryllium that each their difficult activity hasn't gone to waste."