TROWBRIDGE sprinter Danny Talbot has his eyes firmly fixed on rounding off a torrid couple of seasons by bringing home a medal from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, writes JONATHAN LEIGHFIELD.

Talbot last competed at a major international event in 2017 as London hosted the World Championships.

Since then, he has been forced to endure two years of injuries and rehabilitation before recently returning to competitive action, only for another small Achilles injury to temporarily halt his progress until August.

But after calling 2018 the worst year of his professional career, the 28-year-old believes the rest of 2019 can serve as perfect preparation for returning home from the land of the rising sun with gold draped around his neck once more.

Yet, before Tokyo 2020, Talbot has a chance of competing at the World Championships at the end of September, although he is not getting his hopes up and says he is just happy to be healthy and competing again.

“I’m kind of seeing this year as a preparation year so I can be as ready as possible for the Olympics,” said Talbot.

“In terms of the World Championships, obviously I’d love to go and defend the title we won in the 4x100m, but for me, it’s all about getting back to being healthy, getting a few races under my belt and preparing for next year.

“Hopefully I can go to the Olympic Games and win a medal there.”

The former St Augustine’s Catholic College pupil has not enjoyed the happiest of days during his two Olympic appearances – an error on a changeover with Adam Gemili cost Team GB dear in the 4x100m at London 2012 before failing to reach the final on his own in the 200m at Rio’s showing four years later.

Talbot believes this time will be different and explained why claiming an Olympic medal would be the pinnacle of his athletics career.

He said: “It does only come around every four years and it’s just what you grow up watching.

“Everything is always about who wins the 100m at the Olympics.

“It’s strange because it’s the same people that you’re racing in the Diamond League and going around Europe with on the circuit, but it does always come down to the Olympic Games.

“The two Olympics that I’ve been to, there has definitely been a different feel around the place as opposed to a World Championships, a Commonwealth Games or a European Championships.

“Whether it’s the fact you know more people are watching it at home, or there are more athletes in the village, I don’t know.

“But I always had a lot more pride looking back at being selected for an Olympic Games rather than a World Championships.

“I think it’s just engrained into you, but that is every athlete’s dream, to compete at the Olympics and win a medal.”