POZZI DRIVE BRINGS GOLD
ANDREW POZZI claimed gold for Great Britain in the World Indoor Championships last night and then set his sights on Olympics glory.
The 25-year-old (right) won a sizzling 60 metres hurdles final in Birmingham in a season’s best 7.46 seconds to edge out American Jarret Eaton by one-hundredth of a second.
Pozzi has overcome serious injury problems to add the world crown to the European Indoor gold, which he won in Belgrade 12 months ago.
Now he is focusing on winning gold at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
He said: “I honestly believe I have everything it takes to be the best hurdler in the world. I wouldn’t have stuck it out if I didn’t genuinely believe that.
“And I’m on the right track now so it’s just about keeping on the right track to Tokyo.
Problem
“To win my first global is one thing but to do it in Birmingham is so much better.”
Pozzi has twice finished fourth in the World Indoors and missed nearly all the 2016 season with a foot problem.
He added: “I’ve felt ever since 2012 that I have what it takes to be a world champion and Olympic champion.
“That’s what kept me going and I fought through.”
Team GB won a total of seven medals with Pozzi’s British co-captain Shelayna Oskan-Clarke yesterday winning bronze in the 800m final.
The women’s 4x400m relay squad of Meghan Beesley, Hannah Williams, Amy Allcock and Zoey Clark also won bronze after successfully appealing against being disqualified for pushing.
They were promoted from fourth to third after Jamaica were disqualified.
The men’s 4x400m squad came sixth.