Kirani expects tough battle to retain 400 metre title

7msports > Athletics Video > Kirani expects tough battle to retain 400 metre title

Saturday, August 13 2016 by SNTV

Grenada's Kirani James admitted on Thursday (11th August) that he will face stiff competition when he defends his Olympic 400 metre title in Rio.

SOUNDBITE (English) Kirani James, 2012 400m gold medallist:(On defending his title in Rio)

"You know, I'm also here to represent my country. So I'm going to try and do that to the best of my ability. But I don't think titles right now matter. I think the way this event is going, for future references also, it is really hard to predict who is going to come out on top. I haven't won a world title since the last Olympic Games, so there are guys, you know more current world title holders than me, so I think they are the ones that really have more weight and more titles. Like I said, it is going to be interesting and we will see how it goes."

SOUNDBITE (English) Kirani James, 2012 400m gold medallist:(On his rivals)

"The craziest thing about it is that we have all ran against each other in the last four years, we have all seen each other at least once, so I don't think the Olympic Games experience really matters because we know each other so well, that's all really that it's going to come down to."

SOUNDBITE (English) Kirani James, 2012 400m gold medallist:(On what it takes to win)

"I think it will come down to just race strategy, just following the race plans, you know and just doing that. I think it is going to come down to the last 100 metres and who is in a better position but we will see. There is so much great talent in the 400 that it is really hard to predict who is going to be where. Everyone has a different strategy, a different race plan, so it is going to be interesting to see how things work out."

SOUNDBITE (English) Kirani James, 2012 400m gold medallist:(On what would it mean to win gold again)

"I think it would mean a lot, not just for my country but to me personally. It's been a tumultuous four years, it would mean a lot just to come back and retain the title. Very few people have had the chance to do that, so I'm just happy that I'm even mentioned right now."