Regis lambasts British athletes
Regis lambasts British athletes
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Wednesday, 02, Aug 2006 09:36
Retired sprinter John Regis has claimed Britain is a third-world country when it comes to track and field.
The former European champion at 200metres believes the current crop of athletes do not have the right attitude towards the sport and too many concentrate on the financial, rather than sporting, rewards.
With the European Championships due to start in Gothenburg next week, Regis believes Britain's chances of success are remote.
"Britain is a third-world country in track and field as some of our guys party, they drink and they do stuff that will not help them perform," Regis told the BBC.
"I think a lot of them are money-driven and they want first and try and perform later. We are getting further behind and it is about time they showed their true worth."
Despite winning gold in the men's 4x100metre relay at the 2004 Olympics, there have been no individual runners in either the 100metres or 200metres final in 2004 or at last year's World Championship.
The return of Dwain Chambers after two years out of the sport serving a drugs ban has been a controversial move but the 2002 European champion was the quickest British runner at the Gateshead grand prix in June, where Jamaica's Asafa Powell equalled his own world record.
Having seen him run then, Regis believes he is Britain's best hope for a medal in Sweden.
"Dwain is our main chance and if that doesn't tell you we're in big trouble, I don't know what will," Regis added.
"In his first race back he walloped our best athletes, which says a lot."
The European Championships take place between August 6th and 13th.