Controversial British sprinter Dwain Chambers said he feels like a gold medal-winner already as he prepares to return to Olympic competition despite an earlier drug ban.
The 34-year-old 100m runner said it was a “dream come true” to compete in London, after being fitted for his Games kit at the British athletics team's base in central England.
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“It has been a long time since Sydney and I have always said I never believed I would get here. Today has just been a dream come true,” Chambers said.
“A goal was to get here, but that wasn’t a goal open to me. Just to be in the atmosphere of the Games is fantastic. To be able to go out there and experience that Olympic atmosphere to me is like a gold medal to me.”
Chambers has not run faster than 10.25 seconds in the last six months but insisted he is capable of finding form at the right time and is now eyeing the 100m final in London.u00a0“If I can sail through the heats comfortably, then get through the semi-final, then get to the final, anything can happen. I’d like to get into the final,” said Chambers.
“Current form may show that I’m not in good shape, but physically and mentally I do feel in a position where I can go out there and perform. I still feel I have the ability, I’ve just got to do the best I know I can.” u00a0Chambers was only cleared to compete in London in April, when the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that Britain’s life ban for drug cheats contravened the world anti-doping code. “The whole process of kitting out has been fantastic and I am looking forward to it,” Chambers said.u00a0