Olympics: Jake Wightman has ‘fire in him’ for LA 2028 after Paris setback

Wightman had hoped 2024 would be the year “when everything would fall back into place and it would be my best season” after putting his injury woes behind him.

“So it’s a horrible way to end an Olympic experience – I couldn’t go,” he said. “For me now it’s a decision about what I do.

“I could have easily been crushed by it and not wanted to continue. But I can’t leave my Olympic experience behind like that.

“I hope I can make it through another cycle, and I feel motivated to do that instead of feeling disappointed and dejected. I have to keep that fire going inside, and I’m glad it’s still there.”

A foot problem prevented Wightman from defending his world title in 2023 and he missed the British Olympic qualifiers in June with a calf injury.

However, he was given a discretionary choice by Team GB’s selection committee for the 800m, after which his hopes of competing in Paris were dashed.

“I think the cruelest thing was that I thought I was unlucky and didn’t do the trials in the summer,” Wightman said.

“I don’t think I can handle many more setbacks like this, so I hope I can basically train and race for four years straight. That’s what I really need.”

Wightman practices this sport to win championships and medals.

“I still believe I can do it and I believe I could have done it over the years, but I just never got the chance to show it, so that’s the cruelest thing,” he added.

“It’s about proving that I can still do it and that all their hard work wasn’t in vain.”