Kent athlete Jack Green is enjoying being back on the track and looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead.

The 22 year old from Maidstone made a name for himself, representing Great Britain in last year’s Olympics in the 400 metre hurdles, whilst competing in the 4x400m relay.

Green, who trains down at the University of Bath has just come back to the track after a few months rest to prepare for the chellanges that lie ahead and he told KSN how he was thrilled to have been one of those to have received their funding for the year ahead:

“We’ve got the Commonwealth Games and European Games next year and I went back to training a few weeks ago after a long break, which was nice.”

“It’s good to get the hard work in now and I’m still on funding, which I’m extremely grateful for after a disappointing year.”

“I always have the confidence in myself, but it’s nice to have that backed up by my governing body as well.”

“Obviously having the funding isn’t the be all and end all, but it certainly makes your life easier.”

“When you have got that support, both financially and medically, which I think is worth its’ weight in gold to elite sports people.”

Known to put a lot of pressure on himself, Jack told KSN how it was vital for him to have got away from it all for a few months to recharge the batteries and get himself in shape for the new season:

“I had a really difficult year, it never got going and I was never in the right place. I tried to get through that and in the end I wasn’t actually in bad shape, but I wasn’t ready to race.”

“It was really nice to have a couple of months off and I usually only have a month off, but I decided to have two, be a normal person, get away and then want to really want to be back on the track.”

Pressure is something that all athletes and sports people have to learn to deal with. Internal and external pressures can make or break someone and for Green these last few months have been all about going back to what makes him love his sport and get the enjoyment of why he does what he does for a living:

“It comes with the territory of elite competition. In the end I have a lot higher aims for myself than anyone else has of me. It’s more of an internal pressure and that was kind of the problem with me.”

“I am very much someone that looks for the ultimate goal and then forgets about all the little achievements along the way.”

“I should be proud of how far I have come so far, but the person I am, going to the Olympics in my eyes wasn’t an achievement, I wanted to do well at the Olympics.”

“I move the goalposts for myself, but I’m starting to get to the point where I can look back and say that at the age of twenty two I’ve already been to an Olympics and come fourth in the relay.”

“I haven’t been to a Commonwealth games or European Games, I’ve only been to a World Championships and Olympics, so I have got those to focus on next. It’s then the World’s and then on to Rio.”

“Every year is learning and then getting ready for the next competition.”

Now back in training down in Bath, Green is looking to the future and admits he is unsure at the moment as to exactly where that lies:

“At the moment, it’s all endurance stuff with long runs in the rain. That’s when I really wish I was a sprinter instead!”

“It’s the event I do, so I have no choice, but it’s all this stuff that you have to do, because if you don’t, you won’t succeed.”

“We discussed about maybe me becoming a 400 metre runner. In the end, I don’t have to make a decision and nothing is set in stone.”

“I can try both and whatever I am doing best at the time, I’ll probably focus on, but I’ve always said that I reckon I could be a world class four hundred runner, but I could always be one of the best in the world over the hurdles.”

“I’d rather be the best in the world, rather than one of the best.”

The word legacy is something that is always spoken of after any Olympic games and no more so than after London 2012 with Green playing his part by launching Green Machine Sport, an athlete mentoring programme for 13-19 year olds in Kent.

One of their main aims is to provide a support system to aspiring athletes and Green is proud of their achievements so far after launching the project back in January:

“I think it’s more the increased awareness to be an inspiration. More people take notice and I do a lot of coaching and I’ve got a talent squad I work with in Kent.”

“They’ve done really well and I’m doing my best to bring on the sport and keep this legacy going or even start it depending on how you look at it.”

“I just push them in the right direction and in a way, I’m just a support system. It’s nice to see young athletes involved, especially from my home county doing so well. Someone like Dina Asher-Smith who had a fantastic year.”

A self confessed Gillingham fan and someone that gets along to as many games at Priestfield as he can, Green always keeps an eye on the results of his local side.

With Martin Allen having recently lost his job at the club and Peter Taylor coming in as interim manager, Green believes his side are heading in the right direction, but is used to seeing the highs and lows of sport:

“All sport’s the same. There’s incredible highs and they had the promotion last year and then you have the lows of how they are doing now with only three wins in twelve.”

“That’s sport and it’s just like an exagerated way of life. They’ll be fine I’m sure and with Peter Taylor in there, he’ll sort them out.”

To keep up to date with how Jack is doing, follow him on Twitter or visit his website – http://www.greenmachinesport.com/