Martyn Rooney Primed for Second Spell in Olympic Limelight

“We definitely don’t mess around,” smiles Martyn Rooney, happily aware of the grueling necessities of readying his body to compete at the very summit of world athletics. “There are no gimmicks, we just go out there and work as hard as we can.

“That challenge is enjoyable for me though because I realise that, if I put in that work and stay injury free, I can win a medal. And that is what every competitor wants to do. The thought of there being an Olympic medal there to be won spurs me on.”

Rooney’s demeanour is charmingly straightforward as he outlines the mindset that drives him through the off season, when training schedule steps up to a gruesome level of intensity and the habitual loneliness of a runner is at its most stark.

The 25 year-old’s ambition to claim a 400m gold for Great Britain in London next year burns through every word he speaks. Admirably, though, there is no hint of giddiness at the immense prospect of a home Games that is now in tantalizingly close proximity. Neither is there any suggestion that he might stray from the methodical plan he has put in place alongside coach Nick Dakin.

Having performed phenomenally in Beijing three and a half years ago to reach the final, clocking a personal best of 44.60 on the way, Rooney has a proud history of Olympic excellence and is fiercely determined to repeat it.

“The Olympics is the pinnacle of our sport,” he continues, maintaining a level, considered tone despite the enticing topic. “If you can’t get inspired by a Games on your home turf, then there is something seriously wrong with you. This year, there isn’t going to be any risk-taking from my point of view. I am just going to do the things I know work for me.

“When I have that confidence in my preparation, it is easier for me to run quickly. I want to be sensible and make no mistakes. You have to raise your game because it isn’t going to be at all like the Worlds this year – that was pretty weak outside the top two. Next year, there will be twenty or more guys in the mix running 44 seconds for fun. I hope to be at the top of that.”

The relatively low standard in Rooney’s event over the last twelve months – Iwan Thomas recently pointed out that his British record of 44.36 would have brought him gold in Daegu at this year’s World Championships – might inject complacency into less focused men. Rooney is under no illusions of entitlement though, and is certain that the lull is temporary. He knows he must produce a stunning lap to be in the medal mix-up, and won’t be able to do so from the comfort of anonymity either.

“Going into Beijing, I was an unknown on a world scale,” Rooney admits. “I was only really recognised in the United Kingdom. I was unbeaten in 2008 and, though I hadn’t raced against the top two in the world, I had beaten everyone else, even without running particularly well.

“Obviously, I was in a very confident mood and my aim was just to make the final on a quick track by just doing what I had done all season. Now, because I can mix it with the very best, I know that isn’t the right attitude but, at that stage of my career, it probably was.”

The Croydon-born Crystal Palace fan’s affable and thoughtful nature lends itself very well to the senior role he will have at London 2012, where he will also be a prominent figure in the 4 x 400m relay team. He will nurture the likes of Chris Clarke and 400m hurdler Nathan Woodward – two runners Rooney believes are “very talented” and could get very close to medals in their own right – on and off the track.

Should they gel together, Rooney tells me, they could get very close to emulating the European record of 2:56:60, set in 1996 at Atlanta by Brits Iwan Thomas, Jamie Baulch, Mark Richardson and Roger Black, a truly stellar quartet. However, there is no danger of the team event leap-frogging the individual in terms of priorities.

“Athletics is an individual sport, so I need to make sure I look after myself first,” Rooney explains, oozing professionalism. “The individual races are first up, so I need to take care of that before thinking about the relay. The relay is something I will do well in if I am doing my individual stuff well.

“Having said that, as part of the team, sometimes you can naturally raise your game. When all is said and done, it’s another chance to win an Olympic medal.”

Evidently, there is a staunch intent on Rooney’s part to leave no stone unturned on the pursuit of medals. I end with a question so obvious it sends its recipient into a long, loud laugh. So, what would double gold feel like after all of the brutally painstaking build up?

“Two golds would be absolutely amazing, that’s pretty simple,” Rooney says after finally managing to recover from a genuine fit of the giggles.  “Winning one would be good enough. Two would be incredible. Who knows, it could happen.”

If his mature attitude, self-belief and mammoth work ethic count for anything, Rooney will find himself on the start line next summer with a very real chance to fulfill that dream. Should all go well from there, he really will be laughing.

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