I want individual medals in 2018, says world champion Mitchell-Blake

Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake claims the podium feeling is infectious and is gunning for more silverware after the most successful year of his burgeoning career to date.

The 23-year-old sprinter wheeled away in delight after anchoring Great Britain's 4x100m quartet to a sensational gold at the World Athletics Championships in London last summer.

And he is bracing himself for a busy 2018, with the World Indoor Championships, Commonwealth Games and European Championships all on the horizon in the next 12 months.

With his studies at Louisiana State University completed, the sprinter is fully focused on his athletics career as he looks to rack up more medals this year, with individual prizes top of his priorities list.

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Chijindu Ujah, Adam Gemili, Daniel Talbot and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Britain

Image credit: Reuters

"I really want to build on the success of 2017," he said. "I'm looking to get an individual medal on a global stage. The World Indoors, the Commonwealth Games and Europeans give me a chance to do that.

"At university I didn't have much time mentally to think about it. When I was at the track, I was focused but my main priority was graduating. Now my priority is having a successful career.

"I won medals – that's how we're judged in the sport. I'm 23 but why not try now and reach the top.

"People in the past have done it – not that I'm comparing myself to anybody else – but I believe it can be done.

"I want to be the best. I don't want to be a lane-filler. I want medals. That's what you're judged by and that's what I'm capable of doing.

"I'm my harshest critic. I expect more from myself than probably anyone else out there.

"But external pressure doesn't faze me. I control what I do more than anyone else."

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