Olympic long jump champion Greg Rutherford insists he is hellbent on banishing his 2013 demons as he bids to make this year one to remember.
After winning gold at London 2012, Rutherford saw his 2013 season hampered by injury, only managing eighth at the World Championships in Moscow.
His season’s best in 2013 was 8.22m, 13cm down on the joint British record he holds with Chris Tomlinson.
However, in his only competition of 2014 so far – a British Athletics Grand Prix in Birmingham in February – Rutherford finished third with an encouraging 8m effort.
And despite opting out of last month’s World Indoor Championships the 27-year-old is still dreaming big this season – eyeing up both Commonwealth Games and European Championships gold.
"I am super excited to start competing and hopefully have a season a bit like 2012 and put to rest the demons of 2013," Rutherford said.
"Originally I thought to myself I wouldn't do the Europeans, but now looking at the shape I'm getting into I think I'll do both and hopefully come away with two titles in one year.
"I am looking to jump further than I have ever jumped, that's always my aim every year.
"But I'm going to be smart with how I compete, I'm not going to compete too much. Last year when I ended up rupturing my hamstring I started competing a bit tired."
© Sportsbeat 2014