Richard Buck on his hopes for London

With the London Olympics just two years away you can forgive Richard Buck for having just one thing on his mind. The 4x400m relay runner was left devastated as illness forced him to miss the Beijing games. Ever since that moment little else has occupied the thoughts of the 23-year old from Grimsby.

As Buck reminisces about 2008 he is left with mixed emotions. First came the joy of being selected for the squad and travelling out to China. Then came the bitter disappointment as a virus interrupted his training and destroyed his chances of competing as a part of Team GB.

“It was a strange season as I had been performing really well and was so proud of being selected,” describes Buck. “When I picked up the illness I was gutted that I wouldn’t be able to run, but it has provided me with huge motivation to make sure I am at my best in 2012.”

Upon reflection Buck also realises that he was perhaps a little naive heading into Beijing. He had previously had a taste of international competition at the World Student Games and the World Athletics Championships but this had not prepared him for the global phenomenon that is the Olympics.

“As we headed out to Beijing I just thought that it would be like every other meet. I soon realised that it was so much more. Even though I couldn’t race you feel the support of the entire team. You become inspired by everyone’s performances and when someone performs well everyone shares in that success.

“It’s a brilliant sensation and you end up bonding with all of the athletes. It can also act as a bit of an eye opener as you get to see how the other athletes train and react to different situations.”

Having tasted such bitter disappointment many athletes would struggle to recover. Buck, however, has used it as motivation and in the last two seasons has continued to improve his times. His desire to succeed has also led to a change of coach and a move to Loughborough.

Since the move Buck has enjoyed a superb indoor season and helped his fellow 400m relay members claim a bronze medal at the World Indoor Championships. He is now hoping that he can maintain this form throughout the outdoor season.

“It has all gone fantastically well for me indoors but to be honest I am more suited to competing outdoors. I am a tall runner and sometimes the bends are too tight so I am feeling confident that everything will go well throughout the summer.”

Buck hopes to maintain his good form and run well at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi later this year. “It is always a fantastic games as it is a multi sport event that is very similar to the Olympics. It’s very awe-inspiring. I am really looking forward to it and I fully expect us to do well.

“We have a fantastic team and a great track record at these championships. I have to say that I am not even quietly confident, I fully expect us to perform well. We should hope to win and expect to win a medal.”

This confidence has coincided with Buck’s coaching change that was specifically made with London in mind. His new training partners not only help to keep him on his toes but share his ambition of appearing at the Olympics.

“Obviously we have plenty of competitions before the Olympics but I see these as stepping stones. A lot can change in just a few weeks, let alone a few years, but I think it is impossible to ignore such a major event.”

While many athletes will take the official line that it is still a long way off, Buck admits that it is definitely on people’s minds. “I think honestly, hand on heart, every athlete will already be thinking about London 2012.”

Let’s just hope that illness or injury does not stop Buck from realising a dream that was so cruelly taken away in 2008.

Richard Buck wears the PUMA Complete Vectana 2 – www.pumarunning.com