Fresh from claiming double European Championship gold in Zurich this year, sprinter Martyn Rooney says the taste of glory has left him hungry for more.
After finishing an agonising fourth in the 400m at the Commonwealth Games Rooney took his first individual European title in Zurich with a time of 44.71 and also added relay gold to his collection.
Rooney has previously won World and European silver but, after sampling life on top of the podium, he says the only thing that motivates him ahead of next year’s World Championships is gold.
“In the back of my mind, I am thinking this is the start of the next phase in your career. I have to go into the worlds next year and do well. It’s not just about being one of the team and making finals anymore. I’ve got the taste for winning now, so I’ve got to try and do it again,” said Rooney.
“I put a lot of pressure on myself to win – I focussed on it ahead of the Commonwealths, as for me that was the bigger champs.
“That’s what I’d aimed for all year but I suppose when you train with an Olympic champion [Christian Taylor] it kind of changes everything. Europeans was great, but it’s only part of the process.
“I’ve been trying to motivate myself to go into the Worlds and Olympics and get a medal, but I just can’t do it – I have to go in and try and win it!
“Every time I go to training now it’s ‘I’ve got to go and try and win the world champs!’ I know it’s going to be tough, but I’m not motivated for a bronze medal. I can’t turn up to training unless I’m motivated to do it. So if that’s what it takes, aiming for gold, then that’s what it takes.”
© Sportsbeat 2014