Backley ready to raise his game

Steve Backley's javelin arced into the bright midday sky and was framed by the glow of the Olympic flame here yesterday. His effort flew out to 83.74 metres, easily securing his place in the final today, where he hopes to land the title that would establish his place as one of Britain's greatest ever athletes.

Job done, he walked purposefully through the changing area and back to the Olympic village to prepare. There was no fanfare, no pomp - just a decent man doing what he does best, in the same professional fashion that has characterised him for more than 10 years.

Such has been Backley's high level of performance since he won the world junior title in 1988 that it is easy to overlook just how consistent his record is.

The 31-year-old has no immediate plans to retire but, when he does, if he quits without the Olympic gold his momentous career probably deserves, he will not have any complaints. This is surely his last serious opportunity.

Backley compares himself to Jonathan Edwards, the British triple jumper who had a remarkable year in 1995, when he broke the world record three times and won at the world championships in Gothenburg. He has never repeated the success, failing to win a world gold since.

Five years earlier Backley twice broke the world record and won the European and Commonwealth titles. Since then he has retained those titles but gold on the global stages of the Olympic Games and world championships have eluded him, although he was third at the Olympics in Barcelona in 1992 and second in 1996.

"Where do you go when you have achieved so much?" Backley says. "In people's eyes, if you don't live up to the standards you have set, then you have failed. That can be difficult to come to terms with. That's the weird thing.

"I've won three successive European titles and consider them world events. It would be fantastic to win here but not a disaster if I don't."

Backley surpassed the automatic qualifying mark yesterday by 74cm with his first throw, which was bettered in his group only by the Czech Republic's Jan Zelezny, who threw 89.39m, and Germany's Boris Henry, whose effort was 84.58m.

His training partner and great friend Mick Hill also made it through in the 12th and final qualifying slot, despite falling short of the automatic standard with 82.24m, but agonisingly Nick Nieland missed out by one place - or 12cm - with 82.12m.

The presence of Zelezny is an ominous sign for Backley, for it is the former Czech Army colonel who has twice beaten him to the Olympic gold. Four years ago in Atlanta Zelezny relegated Backley into silver by a mere 72cm, an almost meaningless distance when they are throwing distances over 87m.

"Jan has nothing to prove and his back injury probably means this will be his last year, so there will be little pressure on him," says Backley. "Yes, he wants the third Olympic gold but he is just enjoying the sport. I think last year's comeback has given him a second wind and that makes him more dangerous than ever."

And it was Zelezny whose throw of 98.48m in Jena four years ago broke Backley's old world best of 91.46, set in New Zealand in 1992.

The pair are rivals but also great friends and earlier this year Backley trained with Zelezny in South Africa. Imagine Agassi working alongside Sampras or Montgomerie with Woods. It just would not happen.

"If I picked up any tips he wouldn't mind because he is open about things and has this ability to do fantastic things with the javelin," says Backley.

"But training with him is all about competitive spirit - part of the work is roller-blading, then we were pulling sledges with weights. Competition all the time."

Troubled by injuries last year, Backley finished only eighth in the world championships with 83.84m when Finland's Aki Parviainen took gold with 89.52m.

Never has a major title been won with a throw of over 90m - proof of what an achievement it is. Only Zelezny, Backley, the Finns Parviainen and Seppo Raty and Germans Raymond Hecht and Boris Henry have cleared the distance with the current 800-gram javelin. It is a man not on that list, however, Greece's Konstadinos Gatsioudis, the silver medallist in Seville, who could be the one to beat here.

"There are a lot of people in contention for gold," says Backley, who can see the parallel with his hobby, golf. "If you can get into the right momentum and start working in the right way like Vijay Singh did last year when he won the US PGA from seemingly nowhere, anyone can win.

"There are five or six athletes in with a shout. Going by past championships, one is going to get injured, two are going to do all right, one is going to do pretty good and one is going to be fantastic."

Backley, who set his season's best of 86.70m in last month's Olympic trials, admits he has shied away from competition this year and as a result has not produced the performances to be expected of one of javelin's all-time greats in preparation for the games.

"I recognise I have to raise my game. I'm not kidding myself. I know what I have been doing this year is not enough. The minimum the Games will be won in is 87m and it is more likely to be won at 88 or 89m.

"They are not distances that scare me. I threw 89.72m to win the European title in 1998 and I feel now I'm in that sort of shape. This year has always been about Sydney and I know I'm ready for it."