Richards targets medal in London World Championships

O'Dayne Richards maintains he will be working hard to medal at the IAAF World Championships in London next year.

The 27-year-old Richards has a bronze medal under his belt from last year's Beijing World Championships.

"I am always looking to not just maintain, but increase. If you are not number one, you still might have work to do to maintain it," said Richards, who is all about medal contention in London.

"Definitely, that is the way I have to think as a professional athlete. I always have to think I am able to win a global title, break records - and world records," he continued.

OPTIMISTIC

He said he is optimistic about next year, due to his ability to "fight through injuries, surgery and still make it to the Olympic final" in Rio.

"It kinda gives me hope that I will still manage to get into the top 10 or even top three in the world next year in London, so I am really looking forward to that," he told The Gleaner, adding that he took lessons away from Rio ahead of the new season.

"Patience is one of the things I took forward from 2016, to be mindful of the fact that anything can happen and not to pressure myself too much.

"I look forward to the possibilities that are ready and waiting for me in 2017, if the Lord wills," he added.

Richards is also a 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist and Pan Am Games gold medal winner last year. He explained that despite not medalling in Rio, he will grow from the experience.

"I am grateful for what happened this year. I had a few injuries and because of that I wasn't able to perform as well as I would like, but I still managed to make it to the Olympic final and I am grateful," he reiterated.