Paris Games can produce new stars, says Jackson
Olympic silver medallist Colin Jackson is convinced this summer's Paris Games could give rise to a "new generation" of household names in British athletics.
Jackson, 57, feels the sport is more than ready for new superstars to emerge - an occurrence he believes is only possible at an Olympics.
He told the PA news agency: "If we have a successful team, which it's believed to be, and we get five or six medals, if we achieve a 'Super Saturday' as we did in London 2012, that will be another kick-start, because that signifies a new generation.
"We won't be looking at Jess (Ennis-Hill), Mo (Farah), Greg (Rutherford) any more. You're looking at the next generation, touching distance for all upand-coming athletes, and us pre-historic athletes will be happy to celebrate their success."
Jackson believes Paris' proximity and UK-friendly time zone, combined with - unlike the coronavirus-restricted Tokyo 2020 Games - full houses and weeks of "wall-towall athletics" across both the Olympic and Paralympic Games could catapult his sport back into the spotlight.
Take your pick of talent, from Zharnel Hughes - tipped by Usain Bolt himself as a contender for 100m gold in Paris - or world champion
Josh Kerr, hoping to upgrade his 1500m Tokyo bronze, 2024 world indoor pole-vaulting champion Molly Caudery or Commonwealth T38 100m champion Olivia Breen, who won T38 long jump bronze at the Tokyo Paralympics.
"You should (always) be slightly disappointed," Jackson said. "Let me come back, work a little harder, just go a little bit further. Nothing is ever perfect, but excellence is good enough."