Our team spirit is at an all-time high

DANIEL CAINES has just walked into the room at the athletes' village where we've all been watching the first morning of the athletics programme on television and the whole room has stood up and given him a cheer.

Daniel's a good lad - young, excited and he's just run the best race of his life to reach the next round of the 400 metres in his first big championship.

I know he's supposed to be unhappy about some comments from team- mates who reckoned he would not make it through the first round but this is the sort of tongue-in-cheek windup that goes on all the time in the team.

He might have taken it the wrong way because he's new to the team but I'm absolutely positive there wouldn't have been anything malicious in what was said because this is the best spirit I've come across in a British team. I can assure you that there was as much delight for Daniel as there was disappointment for Jamie Baulch after he failed to make it to the next round.

That's the Olympics. Agony and ecstasy in the space of a few minutes. Seeing a full house of 110,000 in the stadium to watch a session of heats gave me a feel for what this programme is going to be like. I honestly have a feeling that we could be about to witness one of the great track meetings of all-time. As for the British team, we had a meeting yesterday and there is a real ring of confidence about the squad.

For me, it is that awkward waiting period when you have a difficult balance to strike. You want to absorb the dramas involving your team-mates out there but at the same time you've got to try not to get so emotionally involved that it takes away from your own focus.

For me, this is essentially a relaxation period before the sprint hurdles start on Sunday. I stopped training after I came down from the Gold Coast three days ago and I can honestly say that I'm relaxed and the best prepared I possibly could be for my last Olympics.

You don't want distractions but you don't want to be completely one-eyed on your event, either. So, yesterday, I went down to the aquatic centre at Olympic Park to watch my housemate, Mark Foster, qualify for the final of the 50m freestyle.

It was great being able to wander down there and having nobody know who you are. It also gave me a feel for the incredible enthusiasm there is here for what could be the most enjoyable of all my four Games.

The Village is probably the best and most comfortable I've been in and when I was down at the canteen there the other day, I saw Allen Johnson, the reigning champion. I don't know what his injury situation is but you can bet that if he's here he's ready.

All along I've said that only Johnson and I have the big race nous at this level but I also have to say now that I think that, perhaps, the biggest danger will come from Anier Garcia, the Cuban I pipped for the world title in Seville last year but who is young, hungry, talented and improving.

Still, nothing has changed my opinion that I am going to go out there and win the gold on Monday.

I've everything to gain and, after finishing fourth last time in Atlanta, nothing to lose.

Hopefully, the next time you hear from me, I'll be wearing a gold medal around my neck.

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