TS1 in Singapore: MEDIA MANIA FOLLOWS MANIC MORNING!

Sunday 15th August

David sets out his blocks at the Bishan Stadium where he will launch his
Youth Olympic 100 metres challenge on Wednesday!

David met the world's number two today for the first time, and lined up alongside him in a blocks session taken by technical officials in a dress rehearsal for Wednesday's heats, and the result was GB 1, Jamaica nil!

The Jamaican false started at least three times - and by some way too - and struck the onlooking Trackspeed1 coach John Powell as being "obviously very talented, but undisciplined and incredibly rough around the edges". He also pointed out that both Jamaicans had best times taken from the same meeting in March this year, whereas David peaked with a world lead time only last week!

David on the other hand was totally focussed, and got on with his session even when others were trying to predict the gun and being recalled by a nauseating electronic beep.

"David was as focussed as I would expect him to be," said John. He was clearly the best at the track by a country mile in terms of getting on with his session. I think reality is kicking in now, so we'll hide away at a remote track tomorrow for a calm final confidence-boosting session before a rest day on Tuesday. He runs Wednesday morning.

"The only slight worry today was the organisation of the technical side of things. The IAAF representative asked me what I thought of the locally manufactured electronic starting gun, and I confessed I thought it was way too blurred. I think the Singaporeans may have a bit of a wake-up call on the way, because the powers that be were far from impressed, and were calling for actual guns to be brought back. It's not something we'll dwell on though - it's someone else's problem, and David and I will be focussed on only one thing from here on in."

It was confirmed this afternoon that qualification for the unique structure of four finals, will see the fastest 8 times qualify for the main 'A' final on Saturday evening. The next slowest go into a 'B' final, the next 8 into the 'C' race, and slowest 8 into the 'D' event.

Straight after training, David was whisked off to the main press centre in Singapore for a press conference alongside Lord Sebastian Coe, Lord Colin Moynihan, and Olympic Gold medalist Amy Williams.

David sits alongside Lord Sebastian Coe at the BOA press conference earlier today.

What could have been a really daunting experience for a sixteen-year-old proved yet another hit with the gathered media, with a variety of questions fired at the fastest under-18 man in the world. He was subsequently interviewed on Eurosport! It will be the last the media see of him though, as he now focusses with his coach on the business in hand.

The Eurosport interview!

The opening ceremony proved a spectacle to behold last night, with a massive worldwide TV audience, and 27,000 people present in Singapore Marina. David's big moment carrying the Union Flag for Great Britain onto the set went without hitch.